Glaring holes, injustices in state Sex Offender program

10-8-2012 Minnesota:

Several glaring flaws in the Minnesota Sex Offender Program get a thorough dissection in an excellent piece by Paul Demko on the Politics in Minnesota site. Says Demko: “The troubles attending the MSOP are well documented, most thoroughly in a critical report by the Office of the Legislative Auditor released in 2011.

What’s never been explored is the disturbing number of individuals like Timothy Coon who have no adult criminal convictions but are nonetheless being indefinitely detained. Currently there are 52 individuals enrolled in the MSOP who meet this description — roughly 8 percent of its entire population.

These individuals are potentially facing a de facto life sentence despite never having been convicted of a crime as an adult. … Michael Miner, a professor at the University of Minnesota’s Program in Human Sexuality, says part of the problem lies with a history of turbulence within the MSOP. ‘There has been a great deal of instability in the leadership of the clinical programs,’ Miner said. ‘Every time there’s been a change in leadership, there’s been a change in the program, and that influences people’s ability to progress.’ ... The program has also been hampered by insufficient clinical staff to provide adequate treatment.” ..Source.. by Brian Lambert