Appeals court to consider Minnesota Sex Offender Program

A federal appeals court is set to consider the constitutionality of Minnesota’s sex offender program. 

A hearing Tuesday before the three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis is the next step in the long legal fight over the program. 

Last summer, a Minnesota judge ruled the program was unconstitutional. District Judge Donovan Frank cited how rarely anyone gets released from it and ordered several changes.  They included assessing the more than 700 people in the program to see which ones should be put on a path for release.  

All that was put on hold pending the state’s appeal, which will be heard Thursday. 

No immediate ruling is expected.