THE MINNESOTA RESTITUTION CENTER, FOUNDED IN 1972, IS GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLE THAT CRIMINALS SHOULD PAY FOR THEIR CRIMES BY WORKING AND PAYING BACK THEIR VICTIMS, NOT BY SERVING TIME IN A PRISON CELL. OF 71 MEN ADMITTED TO THE CENTER BY SEPTEMBER 30, 1974, 26 COMPLETED THE PROGRAM AND WERE RELEASED. NON COMMITTED NEW CRIMES OR TECHNICAL PAROLE VIOLATIONS. TWENTY-FIVE MEN FAILED WHILE THEY WERE LIVING AT THE CENTER -- FOURTEEN ABSCONDED FROM THE PROGRAM, SIX WERE CONVICTED OF NEW FELONIES, AND THREE COMMITTED OTHER TECHNICAL PAROLE VIOLATIONS. THE IMPACT OF THE MEETINGS BETWEEN OFFENDERS AND THEIR VICTIMS IS DESCRIBED. THE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES AND FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM ARE NOTED. ALL SCREENING, INTERVIEWING, MEETINGS WITH VICTIMS, AND WRITING OF RESTITUTION CONTRACTS TAKE PLACE IN THE OFFENDER'S FIRST 4 MONTHS OF INCARCERATION. A CENTER REPRESENTATIVE ACCOMPANIES THE OFFENDER TO THE PAROLE BOARD HEARING, PRESENTS THE PROPOSED CONTRACT, AND REQUESTS THE OFFENDER'S RELEASE. THE AMOUNT OF RESTITUTION PAID HAS RANGED FROM $15 TO OVER $2,000, THE AVERAGE BEING ABOUT $250. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY THE PROGRAM, PARTICULARLY THOSE RELATED TO FINDING JOBS FOR CENTER RESIDENTS, ARE NOTED.