After many community objections, Stearns County will continue its Sentence to Service (STS) program in 2015. However, due to budget cuts, this program will be scaled back.

The Stearns County Board of Commissioners was considering cutting the program, designed as an alternative for non-violent offenders to work on community service projects instead of doing jail time or paying fines.

But, the board unanimously agreed to continue the service after hearing from the public.

The 2015 Sentence to Service program will see a cut to the work crew and a leased van. The board has also said they will no longer lease their building to STS crews for inside work. Additional fees have been applied for the community seeking out work done by STS.

The Stearns County Board of Commissioners has agreed to re-examine the program after one year.