Title: The Minnesota Sex Offender Program, explained | MinnPost
Headings: The Minnesota Sex Offender Program, explained
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The Minnesota Sex Offender Program, explained
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Briana Bierschbach

Content: Republicans and Democrats butted heads over a solution, and without buy-in from both parties during at contentious election season, the Democrats who control the House didn’t want to expose themselves to campaign attacks over releasing sex offenders. Why is the issue so political? It probably goes without saying that sex offenders are a highly stigmatized group, and the release of an offender into a new community — even under intense supervision — brings up issues of public safety. And while it’s up to the Supreme Court Appeal Panel to grant releases to offenders, the Department of Human Services can oppose any release. Because DHS is overseen by a commissioner appointed by the governor, it would be easy to pin any movement of an offender on a political administration. For example, late last year, Republican gubernatorial candidates criticized Gov. Mark Dayton over the proposed transfer of six men from the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter to a less restrictive facility in Cambridge. Those plans were ultimately suspended. Can a federal judge simply release someone from the program? There’s some disagreement about what power the federal court has to release Terhaar — or any other offender from the program. Dan Gustafson, the attorney representing clients in MSOP, said the court could declare Terhaar’s confinement unconstitutional, which would force the state’s hand in petitioning for his release.