Minnesota Leaders Meet Privately About Sex Offender Program

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - An array of Minnesota officials gathered at a federal courthouse to privately discuss the future of the state's program for confining sex offenders.

More than a dozen legislators, Gov. Mark Dayton, Attorney General Lori Swanson and others are talking about potential changes to a program that's been declared unconstitutional.

More than 700 offenders are indefinitely held in secure treatment hospitals because they're deemed a threat to reoffend.

The conference relates to a class-action lawsuit brought by offenders who've been committed to the program by a court apart from any criminal sanctions. Judge Donovan Frank is pushing for a voluntary resolution before imposing required steps by the state.

Media groups fought to open the conference but were denied access. Reporters were barred from the courthouse floor where the meeting is occurring.