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: Today, Minnesota commits more sex offenders per capita than any other state with a similar program. Support MinnPost by becoming a sustaining member today. Why so many? The large increase in the number of people civilly committed to MSOP can be traced back to a single event: The 2003 abduction and murder of North Dakota college student Dru Sjodin, who was killed by Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., a sex offender who had just completed a 23-year prison sentence. Her murder horrified the public and alarmed politicians, who subsequently cracked down on sex offender confinement in Minnesota. How are offenders released from the program? Treatment in the program is “indefinite,” and MSOP technically does not have authority to let anyone out. Clients must petition the Supreme Court Appeal Panel — commonly called the “SCAP process” — before they can either move to CPS or be discharged from their commitment altogether. As of June 30, 26 clients have successfully petitioned to move into the final phase of treatment, but the panel has never granted anyone permanent release from the program.