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: The Minnesota Sex Offender Program, explained | MinnPost
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Politics & Policy
The Minnesota Sex Offender Program, explained
What you need to know about the state’s most embattled program. By Briana Bierschbach
The program — often referred to simply as MSOP — opened in Moose Lake in 1995 as a high-security treatment program for sex offenders who are believed to be dangerous or have a “sexual psychopathic personalities.” MinnPost photo by Briana Bierschbach
July 22, 2014
Last week, inside a federal courtroom in St. Paul, U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank heard several days of testimony from a team of experts appointed to review how the state administers its Minnesota Sex Offender Program — the subject of a class action lawsuit that has raised numerous questions about the program’s constitutionality. Specifically, the hearing was called to determine whether one of MSOP’s patients, a 24-year-old offender named Eric Terhaar, should be released from the program. The state is opposing Terhaar’s release, saying he needs a more time in MSOP before reintegrating into society. Frank is expected to make a ruling within the next few weeks on the fate of Terhaar, a ruling that could pave the way for other MSOP clients to be released. Before that happens, though, here’s what you need to know about Minnesota’s complicated system for treating sex offenders — and why it’s become such a hot button issue: So what exactly is the Minnesota Sex Offender Treatment Program? The program — often referred to simply as MSOP — opened in Moose Lake in 1995 as a high-security treatment program for sex offenders who are believed to be dangerous or have a “sexual psychopathic personalities.” A typical “client” in the program might show a lack of remorse for their actions or seem likely to reoffend.