Task Force To Examine Sex Offender Program

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A federal magistrate has ordered the creation of a task force to come up with less restrictive ways for Minnesota to handle convicted sex offenders.

Chief Magistrate Arthur Boylan's order came Wednesday in a class-action lawsuit by sex offenders in the state's civil commitment program. The program allows the state to continue holding people beyond their prison sentences if they're regarded as dangerous.

The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the program because releases have been rare.

Boylan's order directs the state's Human Services commissioner to appoint the task force to come up with legislative proposals by Dec. 3 to revamp the program.

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