In a rare move, a Ramsey County court has agreed to release a civilly-committed sex offender from the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter.

No one has ever been permanently released from the program. One man was discharged from the program in 2000, but returned in 2003 after violating the terms of his release. Currently, the program houses 635 sex offenders deemed to be at a "high risk to commit a future serious sexual offense."

Offender Made "Significant Progress"

The sex offender in question had been in the St. Peter hospital in 1993 and was formally admitted to the sex offender program in 1998. In the 1980s, he had been convicted of three counts of criminal sexual conduct.

All told, the offender had admitted to more than 29 victims and 100 separate instances of sexual offenses. Most of his victims were children between the age of 8 and 17. He also admitted to using physical violence, threats of harm and alcohol to take advantage of his victims.

Despite the serious nature of his crimes, the court found that the offender had made "significant progress" in his treatment. Further, he had struggled with alcoholism in the past, but had successfully participated in chemical dependency treatment.

Minnesota Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson wrote a letter to the court stating that she did not oppose the offender's release. The commissioner's input was reported to have a significant amount of sway in the decision.

Although he will be released from civil commitment, the offender will not yet be able to lead a completely independent life. He will be required to move into a halfway house, where he will be subject to near-continuous monitoring.

Source: Pioneer Press, "In Rare Ruling, Court Allows Release of Sex Offender From Minnesota Treatment Program," Tad Vezner, Feb. 3, 2012.