THE MINNESOTA COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS ACT WAS PASSED IN 1973 TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COMMITMENTS TO STATE OPERATED INSTITUTIONS, TO ENCOURAGE COUNTIES TO DEVELOP A MORE COORDINATED LOCAL CORRECTIONS/CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND TO IMPLEMENT THE STATE'S POLICY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS SERVICES. AT THE HEART OF THE ACT IS A SUBSIDY THAT ENABLES PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS TO FINANCE NEW COUNTY-BASED ACTIVITIES. THE SUBSIDIES ARE BASED ON A FOUR-PART FORMULA THAT DISTRIBUTES AVAILABLE FUNDS EQUITABLY ON THE BASIS OF FISCAL NEED. PARTICIPATING COUNTIES MUST CREATE A CORRECTION ADVISORY BOARD WHICH IS CHARGED WITH PREPARING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR SPENDING THE STATE FUNDS. THE PLAN IS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WHO RETAIN ULTIMATE AUTHORITY FOR THE FUNDS, AND THEN IS SUBMITTED FOR FINAL APPROVAL BY THE STATE. HOWEVER, THE ROLE OF THE STATE IS MINIMAL. ON BALANCE, THE PROGRAM APPEARS TO BE ACCOMPLISHING ITS GOALS, ALTHOUGH DIFFERENT COUNTIES HAVE PURSUED DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES AND HAVE PROGRESSED AT DIFFERING RATES. THE EXPERIMENT IS DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF ITS BACKGROUND ISSUES, ENABLING LEGISLATION, FUNDING PROVISIONS, AND ADMINISTRATION. THE PROGRAM IS ASSESSED REGARDING COMMITMENTS TO STATE INSTITUTIONS, COST IMPACT, THE DEVELOPMENT AND COORDINATION OF COUNTY CORRECTIONS, RESULTING SECONDARY EFFECTS, RECIDIVISM, AND THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THE PROGRAM TO OTHER STATES. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)