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• <br /> 3. <br /> operating costs of any state in the country, the Department of Corrections budget <br /> increased 23 percent between 1983 and 1991. <br /> Juvenile crime is also a major concern in Minnesota. In 1993, 15 to 19 year <br /> olds had the highest arrest rate; while 10 to 14 year olds and 20 to 24 year olds had <br /> the second and third highest arrest rates (Storkamp, 1993). In that year, there were <br /> 207 arrests for homicides in the state; 56 percent of those arrested for homicide were <br /> in the 10 to 24 year age category (Storkamp, 1993). Because the number of persons <br /> in the 10 to 24 year age range is projected to increase in the next decade, <br /> Minnesotans will likely be faced with a growing juvenile crime rate within the next <br /> ill <br /> decade (Storkamp, 1993). <br /> Minnesota's top corrections professionals support a broad approach to crime <br /> prevention. Frank Jordon, Commissioner of Public Safety, noted that "we need to <br /> incarcerate the people who have proven to be a menace to society, but we also need <br /> to be careful about getting into the situation where we're just using prisons ...to avoid <br /> more significant problems': (Thomma, 1994). Frank Wood, Commissioner of <br /> Corrections has also questioned the wisdom of the get-tough approach to crime and <br /> has stated his preference for spending on preventive programs, rather than on <br /> expensive jail cells (Thomma, 1994). St. Paul police officers demonstrated their <br /> support for recreational programming by volunteering to assist with that city's midnight <br /> basketball program (Bonner, 1990). <br /> 411 <br />