October 5, 2012
Constitutional challenge to MSOP moves through courts
"The practice of civilly committing dangerous sex offenders has existed in various iterations for decades. But the modern version of the Minnesota Sex Offender Program — and the legal and financial burdens the program poses for the state — were shaped mainly by political exigencies in the wake of the grisly murder of 22-year-old college student Dru Sjodin by a paroled sex offender, Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., in November 2003.
Following Rodriguez’s arrest, then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty issued an executive order directing that no one confined to MSOP could be released unless ordered by the courts, in essence daring judges to roll the dice on offenders with well-documented histories of egregious sexual misconduct.
In addition, the Minnesota Department of Corrections changed its policy on Level 3 sex offenders like Rodriguez to ensure that all such individuals would be referred to county attorneys for potential civil commitment when their prison release dates approached. Prior to that change, county attorneys typically relied on the assessment of corrections officials to determine which Level 3 offenders should be referred for civil commitment.
The effect was immediate and dramatic: In the month of December 2003 alone, 235 individuals were referred for possible commitment to MSOP. In the nine years prior to Sjodin’s murder, a total of 237 individuals had been referred to prosecutors for possible civil commitment. In the nine years that followed, the number topped 1,300."
http://politicsinminnesota.com/2012/10/constitutional-challenge-to-msop-moves-through-courts/
‘He was a kid’: Former juvenile sex offenders languish in MSOP
http://politicsinminnesota.com/2012/10/he-was-a-kid-former-juvenile-sex-offenders-languish-in-msop/
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