Sex Offender Treatment? It's a Hoax

A month ago, I commented on criminalization of mental illness. Related to it, this week's topic is the pathologyzation of criminal behavior. The Minneapolis Star Tribune just began a 3 part series about Minnesota's Sex Offender Program (MSOP) located in Moose Lake. Here are the facts as reported by the Strib:

• MSP was created 14 years ago.


• 544 men and 1 woman are confined under MSOP
  - Technically, MSOP officials report holding 544 + 1; we don't really know what that means because the names of those detained in their "gulag" is a state secret.


• No one has ever been discharged. That bears repeating...NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN DISCHARGED!!!! Commitment to MSOP is a life sentence but it differs signifantly from a life-time prison sentence:
  - subjects have no right to a jury trial
  - the standard is "clear and convincing" evidence (well below "beyond reasonable doubt")
  - subjects are required to testify against themselves
  - subjects are "committed" to MSOP after they serve the prison term commensurate with their crime
  - and, of course, gang-bangers convincted of murder and sentenced to life are eventually paroled


• As implied by the Strib, the "treatment" is sort of a hoax. Matter of fact, a 2005 report commissioned by the Vermont Legislature concluded that Minnesota just warehouses sex offenders.

The Strib says these facts raise the question, "Is MSOP really mental health treatment, or just permanent incarceration?" REALLY?!?! That's the question? When the 35W bridge collapsed, did we ask if it was a good thing?