It is the responsibility of the field of Corrections to provide services, which will promote the rehabilitation of offenders and provide safety for the public, keeping in mind the principles of Restorative Justice.

Thus, Corrections practitioners subscribe generally to the following beliefs:

SOCIETY HAS A RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED FROM PERSONS WHO CAUSE ITS MEMBERS HARM, REGARDLESS OF THE REASONS FOR SUCH HARM.

It is the right of every citizen to be free from fear of harm to person and property. Belief in the necessity of law to an orderly society demands commitment to support it. All fields of corrections accept this responsibility and view themselves as an instrument for both control and treatment appropriate to all offenders.

VICTIMS OF CRIME HAVE RIGHTS DESERVING OF PROTECTION.

Corrections recognizes that prosecution of the offender is but part of the responsibility of the criminal justice system. The victim of criminal activity may suffer from the loss of property, emotional problems, or physical disability. Corrections thus commits itself to advocacy for the needs and interests of crime victims.

OFFENDERS HAVE RIGHTS DESERVING OF PROTECTION.

Freedom and democracy require fair, individualized, and humane due process of law in adjudicating, sentencing, supervising and treating the offender.

HUMAN BEINGS ARE CAPABLE OF CHANGE.

Belief in the individual's capability for behavioral change leads corrections practitioners to a commitment to rehabilitation. This is based on the principle that each offender is responsible for his/her own behavior. Corrections practice focuses on identifying and making available those services and programs that will best afford offenders an opportunity to become responsible, law abiding citizens.

NOT ALL OFFENDERS HAVE THE SAME CAPACITY OR WILLINGNESS TO BENEFIT FROM MEASURES DESIGNED TO PRODUCE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS.

The risk to the community posed by an offender should be assessed on an individual basis and rehabilitative treatment should be individualized.

INTERVENTION IN AN OFFENDER'S LIFE SHOULD BE THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE AMOUNT NECESSARY TO PROTECT SOCIETY AND PROMOTE LAW ABIDING BEHAVIOR.

Corrections subscribes to the principle of intervening in the offenders life only to the extent necessitated by public safety. Where intervention can best be provided by an agency outside the system, the offender should be diverted from the system to that agency.

PUNISHMENT FOR THE SAKE OF PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

Corrections philosophy does not accept the concept of retributive punishment as its sole goal. Punishment as a corrective measure is supported and should be used in those instances in which it is determined that an aversive measure may positively alter the offender's behavior when other measures may not. Even corrective punishment, however, should be used cautiously and judiciously in view of its highly unpredictable impact. It is recognized that a conditional sentence in the community is, in and of itself, a punishment. It is less harsh and drastic than a prison term, but more controlling and punitive than release without supervision.

INCARCERATION CAN BE DESTRUCTIVE AND SHOULD BE IMPOSED ONLY WHEN NECESSARY.

Corrections practitioners acknowledge society’s right to protect itself. Incarceration can be an appropriate element of a probation/parole program to emphasize the consequences of criminal behavior and thus effect constructive behavioral change. However, institutions should be humane and required to adhere to the highest standards.

CORRECTIONS IS COMMITTED TO ATTRACTING THE MOST CAPABLE INDIVIDUALS AVAILABLE TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION.

Those who carry out the mission of corrections should be committed to justice and fairness. They should be sensitive to the differences they see in others and themselves. They should be heterogeneous in their racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

WHERE PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT COMPROMISED, SOCIETY AND MOST OFFENDERS ARE BEST SERVED THROUGH COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS.

Most offenders should be provided services within the community in which they are expected to demonstrate acceptable behavior. Community based programs generally are cost effective and they allow offenders to remain with their families while paying taxes and, where applicable, restitution to victims. Examples of community based programs include probation, parole/supervised release, residential programs, day programs, diversion programs, and local detention facilities.

The Association shall sponsor, develop and conduct; programs, services and activities within the stated philosophy of the Association.

The purposes and objectives of the Association are as follows:

To provide, as our principal activity, a variety of services to the membership including education, training, conferences, the dissemination of information, and liaisons with other correctional organizations.

To foster correctional ethics applicable to individuals and to public and private departments, agencies, institutions, programs and services throughout the State of Minnesota.

To foster correctional ethics applicable to individuals and to public and private departments, agencies, institutions, programs and services throughout the State of Minnesota.

To strengthen and increase recognition of corrections as a profession and contribute to the professionalization of correctional personnel.

To inform the membership of legislation and administrative procedures critical to correctional programs and services, and to influence proposed legislation and administrative policy making to safeguard the constitutional and other rights of personnel, victims and offenders; and to improve the governance of the criminal justice and correctional system.

To collect data and provide other means of assistance to correctional organizations, departments, institutions and services, within the resources of the Association.

To sponsor, develop and conduct such other programs, services and activities as in the passage of time are deemed to be within the scope of the Association’s responsibilities and capabilities.