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Pine County probation director presents program results, cites juvenile diversion and monitoring savings
Summary
Probation Director Terry Faucet reported decreased juvenile case counts, broad use of restorative-justice and diversion programs, and savings from electronic monitoring (about $195,000 in avoided out-of-home placement costs). Commissioners praised the programs and collaborations with courts and Department of Corrections.
Terry Faucet, Pine County Probation Director, delivered the department’s annual outcomes and highlighted diversion and evidence-based programming that officials say reduced detention and saved taxpayer dollars.
Faucet reported 388 cases counted for certain funding purposes in 2025 and said juvenile referrals were lower (49 new juvenile cases). He described a restorative-justice (C5) program that has handled 148 delinquency cases since 2016 with a low one-year recidivism count (12 recidivated one year post completion, many misdemeanors). Faucet said the department’s electronic monitoring program saved about $195,000 in out-of-home placement costs last year by supervising 16 youths for a combined 696 monitored days instead of out-of-home placements.
Faucet highlighted several in-house programs, including an intensive DWI supervision program (historically strong completion and recidivism metrics), the LEAD first-time DWI offender program, and a domestic-violence education program that the office runs without charging participants. He credited partnerships with local judges, the county attorney's office and the Minnesota Department of Corrections for program work and data-sharing.
Commissioners praised the department’s work and noted the county’s approach aims to keep young people in community-based interventions rather than detention when appropriate. Faucet said counties must plan for the possible sunset of local corrections fees in 2029 and will include scenarios in the comprehensive plan update.
What happens next: Faucet and a DOC counterpart said they will present a more complete comprehensive plan update to the board later in the summer and continue monitoring program outcomes and funding implications.
