Minnesota Lawmakers Review Sex Offender Laws

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota Senate committee is holding a hearing on the legally imperiled Minnesota Sex Offenders Program.

The Judiciary Committee convened Monday morning at the Capitol. They were scheduled to talk about an issue that's likely to be a contentious one when the entire Legislature returns to St. Paul early next year.

A federal judge has put Minnesota on notice that its treatment program for sex offenders needs to be significantly changed or else could be dismantled by the court. The state has a long practice of keeping offenders in indefinite custody after their prison terms have ended.

In the program's 18 years, only one offender has been released.

A Department of Human Services task force is scheduled to release recommendations by Dec. 1 for possible legislative changes to the program.