Minnesota’s reliance on community supervision—probation and supervised release—has risen dramatically for decades, while funding and effectiveness could improve. This system has led to high rates of revocations, disproportionately impacting communities of color and costing taxpayers over $77 million annually.

Criticism has mounted over the years regarding the effectiveness of community supervision practices, which have often contributed to mass incarceration rather than serving as a viable alternative. In 2023, Minnesota took significant steps to reform its community supervision practices to address these issues and improve outcomes.