"The task force's first meeting is set for Thursday in St. Paul. It is required to produce its first set of recommendations by Dec. 3" Recommendations don't mean that anything different will happen. They'll have to create a completely new set of community resources to monitor these guys, you might as well call them level 4's. We'll see if the state will try to push the costs down to local government and where they will live. Maybe they can move to North Minneapolis and the shelters like the level 3's.

First off, Level 3s cannot live in shelters, this is illegal and second all areas of the state have Level 3s. Third, if the govenerment does not follow some of the recommendations, I would venture many of those committed could be released because our contitution does not allow us to confine an individual after they have served their time. Fourth, because many have been committed for such a long time, I would estimate, many will be "off paper" and will not have to answer to anybody as long as they register. Just something to think about.

A collection of lawyers is going to figure out the best way to "treat" sex offenders? I guess we can see what the state's objective is here. How about a treatment task force led by someone who, oh, I don't know, has a degree in psychology or therapy? Let's call this what it is: a legal task force.

"oleyellowhai-First off, Level 3s cannot live in shelters, this is illegal and second all areas of the state have Level 3s." When they get off of DOC supervision, they can live wherever they can, including being homeless and in shelters. If homeless, they are required to report in to the police once a week. You should look closer at the addresses on the Level 3 list the DOC posts.

Participants should include professionals experienced in working with sex offenders in the community. You may see something such as a Stay of Civil Commit and provisional discharges where offenders remain in the community under supervsion of DHS Field Agents, similar to having a Probation or Parole Officer, who will report back to the Civil Court or maybe the Supreme Court Review Panel. The State will not allow these offenders in the community without some level of supervision. Already seems a little heavy on political figures.......

Actually, the task force includes professionals in the field. I suspect the reason it's top heavy with judges is because the program will need to be constiutionally acceptable so it needs to be guided by judges with knowledge of the applicable constitutional standards.

"knowledge of the system or expertise in criminal justice, sex offender treatment or victim advocacy" does not indicate professionals working directly with the offenders in the community. Perhaps treatment providers in group or individual settings. I would hope that person on this group will have a vast knowledge of how to supervise, monitor, watch, provide surveillance. Understanding of tools and resources for offenders. Use of technology to track offenders. All too often, these take a political spin and the effectiveness is lost. The Legislative Auditor made a report in 2005 that had some good recommendations for supervising sex offenders still under correctional supervision. To date little of those recommenations have been adopted.