ARC: Arrowhead Regional Corrections
Arrowhead Regional Corrections (ARC) provides correctional services to five counties — spanning 17,220 miles — of Northeastern Minnesota's Arrowhead region.
ARC was formed in 1976 under the auspices of the Minnesota Community Corrections Act and a joint powers agreement between the counties of Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis.
Correctional services include Pre-Trial Release, Probation, Supervised Release (Parole), and Intensive Supervised Release supervision.
ARC also operates two correctional facilities—Northeast Regional Corrections Center (NERCC) in Saginaw and Arrowhead Juvenile Center (AJC) in Duluth.
ARC Impacts…
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through case planning, programming, treatment, supervision, and sanctions which are provided in a fair, respectful and responsive manner.
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by assisting and supporting them within the criminal justice system.
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by enhancing public safety, sharing knowledge, repairing harm, promoting positive social change and by collaborating with other community / cultural resources to achieve mutual goals.
Staff Leadership / Division Directors
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Becky Pogatchnik
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Becky started her career with ARC in 1998 and prior to her promotion to ARC Executive Director in 2024, she served as an AJC Corrections Agent, ARC Probation Officer, AJC Supervisor, NERCC Supervisor, and AJC Director during her tenure.
Becky has been involved in the implementation of Evidence Based Practices (EBP) dating back to 1997. Although she has extensive experience working on EBP initiatives at the state level, her commitment is to providing quality services to justice involved persons in the Arrowhead Region and improving public safety.
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Wendy Skottegard-Burke
DIVISION DIRECTOR, AJC
Wendy started her career with ARC in 1996 and prior to her promotion to AJC Division Director in 2024, she served as an AJC Corrections Counselor, Corrections Agent, Supervisor, and an ARC Motivational Interviewing trainer.
Wendy has extensive experience working with multi-disciplinary teams to respond effectively to juvenile sexual exploitation. In addition, she has expertise in responding to the needs of justice involved girls, and in the treatment of youth with sexually abusive behaviors. Wendy values the opportunity of collaboration and connection with youth, the community, and justice system partners to impact change.
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Kathy Lionberger
DIVISION DIRECTOR, NERCC
Kathy began her career in 1983 as an intern at AJC and was hired shortly thereafter as a Corrections Counselor, where she served for several years until her promotion to Probation Officer.
In 2012, Kathy was promoted to Probation Supervisor, where she played a key leadership role in the oversight of six treatment courts and contributed to significant program innovations.
In 2020, Kathy was promoted to Division Director at the Northeast Regional Corrections Center (NERCC).
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Phill Greer
DIVISION DIRECTOR, COURT AND FIELD SERVICES
Phill has been in the Corrections field since 1990, serving in six states prior to his current position as ARC’s Division Director for Court & Field Services.
Phill has extensive correctional experience including urban and rural settings, Adult and Juvenile field and residential services, secure multi-custody level jail management, work release, electronic monitoring, and treatment programming. He managed one of the country’s largest mega-jails, as Chief of Corrections, and previously served as Executive Director of Tri-County Corrections in Crookston, Minnesota.
Executive Board
Arrowhead Regional Corrections is administered by a Board of Commissioners (referred to as the 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 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 appointment who rotates between these counties, every year. The Executive Board meets the third Friday of every month.
Current Executive Board Members are:
Commissioner Rick Goutermont, Lake County: Chairperson
Commissioner Destry Hell, Koochiching County: Vice Chairperson
Commissioner Marv Bodie, Carlton County
Commissioner Annie Harala, St. Louis County
Commissioner Garry Gamble, Cook County
Commissioner Keith Nelson, St. Louis County
Commissioner Ashley Grimm, St. Louis County
Commissioner Debra White, Cook County
Advisory Board
Under the Community Corrections Act (CCA), agencies are required to have a local corrections Advisory Board to make recommendations and approve the annual comprehensive plan. The ARC Advisory Board meets quarterly.
Current Advisory Board Members are:
Cal Saari: Chairperson, Public Member, St. Louis County
Jeff Boucher, Carlton County Attorney
Kim Maki, St. Louis County Attorney
Carl Crawford, St. Louis County Accessibility & Engagement Coordinator
Abigail Otis, Fond Du Lac Human Services Director
Gordon Ramsey, St. Louis County Sheriff
Mark Smith: Liaison, MN Department of Corrections
Judge Nicole Hopps, 6th District Court Judge
Dan Lew, 6th District Chief Public Defender
Dr. Rob Weidner, Public Member, St. Louis County
Steve Borud, Public Member, Cook County
Scott Larson, Public Member, Lake County
Bob Grytdahl, Public Member, St. Louis County
David Hegg, Public Member, St. Louis County
Rick Smith, Public Member, St. Louis County
Team of probation officers at the Duluth Courthouse (one St. Louis County location of the Court and Field division), Duluth, MN
Classroom at Arrowhead Juvenile Center (AJC) in Duluth, MN
Crew Leader works with justice-involved men to grow flowers and food, both for use at NERCC, and for sale in NERCC's retail spaces