Minnesota is a decentralized state. Delinquency services are primarily organized at the local level in Minnesota; however, local autonomy produces several different scenarios.

How is detention organized? 

Detention facilities are administered in a variety of ways in Minnesota, including by county commission or board, county executive or manager, state juvenile agency, sheriff or police chief, and private contractor. Counties fund detention, with subsidies available from the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) for the construction or rehabilitation of juvenile detention facilities or for maintaining adequate facility operations or alternative detention programs.

Juveniles classified as Juvenile Petty Offenders (first-time theft, shoplifting, or disorderly conduct offenders) are typically diverted from formal court processing; however, eligibility requirements may vary from county to county. By statute, every county attorney's office must establish a pretrial diversion program for juvenile offenders.

Minnesota law states that victims of juvenile offenders have the same rights as victims of adult offenders.

Counties in Minnesota operate under one of three probation systems:

1. Community Corrections Act (CCA)

2. County Probation Officers (CPO).

3. Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC)

Generally, juvenile probation officers/agents in Minnesota are required to have a bachelor's degree in a behavioral science field, or a combination of education and experience. Specific requirements vary depending on the county.

Juvenile commitments are made to the Department of Corrections (DOC). An adjudicated delinquent may not be placed in a licensed secure treatment facility unless the juvenile court approves the placement. However, the program administrator may determine the juvenile's length of stay in the secure portion of the facility.

Institutional staff makes the release decision based on the facility's determination that the youth has successfully completed the case plan. The Community Services Division, Policy and Legal Services Unit, Hearings and Release Unit of the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) grants and revokes parole and supervised release.

Juvenile Re-entry is a component of the Juvenile Services Division. Aftercare services are provided for youth completing the programming at the DOC facilities. Supervision is founded on an Intensive Aftercare model, which has been noted as a best practice by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

Minnesota’s purpose clause reflects Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) philosophies.  The BARJ movement advocates that juvenile courts give balanced attention to three primary interests: public safety, individual accountability to the victims and community, and the development in offenders of those skills necessary to live law-abiding and productive lives.

Lower Age: 10

Upper Age: 17

Extended Age of Delinquency Jurisdiction: 20

Risk/Needs Assessments are not state mandated, therefore the use of risk assessments at detention screening varies from county to county. For example, the Dakota Juvenile Detention Center in Dakota County uses the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI).