Legislative Information
Establishing a comprehensive budget for a safer, more secure Minnesota.
Delivering effective correctional services that hold incarcerated individuals accountable and result in changed behavior, while also addressing the needs of crime victims, requires a comprehensive multi-faceted approach.
Our "SAFETY FIRST" approach recognizes that establishing safety is a basic human need. In order to provide correctional services that meet the justice interests of victims and the needs of offenders requiring rehabilitative change, we must prioritize the safety of all corrections staff, the safety of those residing in our correctional facilities, and those under correctional supervision in Minnesota communities.
The effectiveness of our corrections system is a 'Main Street' issue for all Minnesotans. 95% of the women and men currently incarcerated in Minnesota prisons will one day return to communities and neighbors throughout the state. Given this reality, it only makes sense that Minnesota's Department of Corrections initiates effective, practical, and fiscally responsible rehabilitative intervention efforts. Effective service delivery to the correctional population requires thorough assessment of offender needs and risks, followed by the use of evidence-based intervention strategies.
When communities are more connected, they're safer. We want Minnesota's response to criminal behavior and wrongdoing to be fair, effective, and meaningful. It is time to replace the failed "tough on crime" approach with a "smart on crime" rehabilitative standard. This new standard provides for meaningful accountability while working to address the needs of those who have offended at the community level - reserving the costly use of Minnesota's prison system for those who represent higher-risk to communities and have more significant intervention needs. The new standard also demands that we ensure that offenders maintain pro-social connections with their family, friends, and faith or spiritual communities during incarceration, as these entities all serve as critical supports during a successful community reentry process.
We help ensure people in Minnesota are safe. The Walz-Flanagan budget funds critical needs for corrections, including staffing, programming, healthcare, and victim notification.
Statewide
- Budget for One Minnesota
- Governor's FY2020-21 Overall Revised Budget Recommendation
- Bonding Bill Fact Sheet
Quick Downloads
- Corrections Officer Vacancies Explained (Handout)
- 2019 Hiring Process Improvements (Handout)
- Letter on impacts of Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Omnibus Bill (PDF)
- Governor's Revised FY2020-21 Budget Recommendations for Corrections (PDF)
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DOC Budget Overview Fact Sheet (March 2019)
Electronic Monitoring and Transitional Housing for High-Risk Offenders
Governor Walz’s budget provides $1.5 million in FY2020 and $1.5 million in FY2021 and each subsequent year for electronic monitoring and transitional housing. These funds are needed to maintain the current level of service. Lack of funding may result in high-risk offenders being homeless, and/or being placed on supervision without electronic monitoring devices.
Integrated Case Management
Governor Walz’s budget ensures DOC will provide integrated case management services to 420 additional high-risk offenders, while alleviating caseloads. The overall budget proposal is $321,000 in FY2020 and $831,000 in FY2021 to hire 12 staff, including 10 caseworkers and 2 support staff.
Intensive Supervised Release (ISR)
Governor Walz’s budget provides $2.5 million in FY2020 and $5 million in FY2021 to provide ISR supervision to offenders in the community. This request includes salaries, supplies and equipment for 19 FTEs (17 agents, 1 supervisor and 1 support staff). Additionally, it includes pass through funds to CCA counties ($1.588 million in FY2020, $3.176 million in FY2021 and each subsequent year).
Investing in Programs to Reduce Recidivism
Governor Walz’s budget provides $1 million in FY2020 and $1 million in FY2021 and each subsequent year. It includes $150,000 each year in grant funds for transportation services to children of incarcerated parents, $425,000 each year in grant funds for culturally specific reintegration services for American Indian male offenders, and $425,000 each year to improve parenting skills.
Juvenile Justice Reform
Governor Walz’s budget provides $500,000 each year for juvenile justice reform in Minnesota. $280,000 will be used to fund two positions to coordinate and provide services across the state, and $220,000 as grant funds to local agencies to establish juvenile detention alternatives.
Health Care for Those Who Are Incarcerated
Governor Walz’s budget provides funding of $2.951 million in FY2020 and $5.432 million in FY2021 to fund the medical and mental health needs for those under the direct care of the DOC.
Operating Budget
Governor Walz’s budget provides $10.558 million in FY2020 and $17.778 million in FY2021 to maintain our current level of service and keep our prisons and communities safe. It will maintain 162 FTEs in FY2020 and 300 FTEs in each subsequent year.
Pre-trial Assessment and Supervision
Governor Walz’s budget provides $1.725 million in FY2020 and $3.45 million in FY2021 to create a pre-trial supervision unit with 12 FTEs (10 agents, 1 supervisor and 1 support staff). Funding includes a proportionate level of pass-through funds to CCA and CPO counties ($1.108M in FY2020 and $2.216M in FY2021 and each subsequent year.
Prison Safety and Security
Correctional Officers are the backbone of our department – keeping Minnesotans safe and helping to change lives daily. The critical funding request provides $2.7 million in FY2020 and $7.020 million in FY2021 to hire 120 correctional officers. Additionally, the request provides $268,000 in FY2020 and $625,000 in FY2021 to add 6 lieutenants by the end of FY2021.
Victim Notification and Juvenile Correctional Management System
Governor Walz’s budget provides $400,000 over two years to complete the replacement of the DOC’s victim notification system. $750,000 over two years will be used to replace the current Juvenile Correctional Management System.
Office of Ombudsman for Corrections
Governor Walz’s budget provides $900,000 each year to reestablish the Office of Ombudsman. The office would have six full-time staff.