Mission:  Affecting Lives by Reducing Crime

A.R.C. Affects:

• OFFENDERS through assessment, supervision, treatment, and sanctions which are provided in a fair and respectful manner.
  
• VICTIMS by assisting and supporting them within the criminal justice system.
  
• COMMUNITIES by enhancing public safety, sharing knowledge, promoting positive social change and by collaborating with other community resources to achieve mutual goals.

A.R.C. Believes:

• Services are most effective and sustainable when provided at the community level.
  
• People can change and that positive change should be promoted whenever possible.
  
• In being accountable by using evidence based research in measuring outcomes for the organization and clients.
  
• In operating in an open and accountable manner to the public and in using all public resources wisely

ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION

Arrowhead Regional Corrections provides correctional services to five counties of Northeastern Minnesota’s "Arrowhead" region. ARC was formed under the auspices of the Minnesota Community Corrections Act and a joint powers agreement between the participating counties of Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis.

Arrowhead Regional Corrections is administered by an Executive Board  under a joint powers agreement between the counties of Carlton, Cook, Lake, Koochiching and St. Louis. The ARC Executive Board is made up of eight County Commissioners from the five participating counties. St. Louis County appoints three members, with the remaining counties selecting one member each. Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, and Lake counties have an additional member that rotates between counties, every year.

SIZE AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

• The five ARC counties of Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis are located in northeastern Minnesota’s "Arrowhead Region."
  
• Together the five counties encompass 13,738 square miles, which is 17% of the state’s total area of 79,617 square miles.

CRIME RATES

• In the ARC counties during 2002, 23% of arrests were of juveniles, while 77% of arrests were of adults. This is identical to rates for juveniles and adults statewide.
  
• The major offense categories of ARC’s probation clients include DWI offenses (32% of total), assaults (10%), drug offenses (10%), traffic offenses other than DWI (7%), and juvenile status offenses and disturbing the peace (5% each).
  
• The major offense categories of clients of the Arrowhead Juvenile Center include violation of probation/warrant, assault, vehicle theft, and burglary.
  
• The major offense categories of clients of the Northeast Regional Corrections Center include violation of probation, DWI and other alcohol-related offenses, assault, drug offenses, burglary, and criminal sexual offenses.

ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE

In addition to the Executive Board, ARC also has an Advisory Board made up of eight citizens, two judges, a county attorney, a public defender, a sheriff, an educator, a social service director and a minority representative. The Advisory Board meets bimonthly or more frequently when needed to discuss issues related to correctional services and make recommendations to the Executive Board. The Advisory Board is required by statute under the Community Corrections Act.