About Us

What is MARS?

MARS is an organization of corrections professionals formed to promote the concept of monetary restitution/community work service in the State of Minnesota.

Our Goals Are:

• To provide technical assistance in training and assistance in program implementation and development.
• To collect, organize and disseminate information on monetary restitution/community work service programming throughout the State.
• To promote, through education, public awareness of the benefits of monetary restitution/community work service to the Court, community and offender.
• To encourage and promote on a statewide basis the appropriate use of monetary restitution/community work service as a dispositional alternative.
• To provide a communication network for community work service referrals and placements between counties.
• To adopt such other purposes that are consistent with the scope of this association which the membership determine and approve.

Accomplishments

• Promoted State legislation to support the use of monetary restitution/community work service as a viable sentencing alternative.
• Endorsed the 1987 revision of the Revenue Recapture Act and 1993 Juvenile paid stipend legislation.
• Conducted restitution workshops at Minnesota Corrections Association, Minnesota Association of County Probation Officers and Victim/Witness conferences.
• Participated in/co-sponsored NCSSA and American Restitution Association (ARA) National Conferences.
• Developed a Minnesota directory of community work service programs.
• Published a training manual for new and existing restitution programs to promote uniformity throughout the State.