Judge To Rule June 17 on Minnesota Sex Offender Program

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A federal judge plans to rule next week on a constitutional challenge to the Minnesota Sex Offender Program.

A filing Tuesday says U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank will issue his findings and order "on or around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17."

The class-action lawsuit on behalf of more than 700 people committed to the program says it's unconstitutional because hardly anyone ever gets out, even if they do well in treatment and could safely be freed or released into less-restrictive facilities.

The state counters that the plaintiffs failed to prove any constitutional violations during the trial held in February and March. It says the evidence shows the program operates in accord with the best practices in the field.

Even before the trial, Frank said the program is "clearly broken."