Comments on: MN Sex Offender Program costs $70 million a year but rehabilitates no one

By: garden of eve

garden of eve — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:37:10 +0000

I want to say that my husband is in one these places all for just making a phone call over 16 yrs. ago, I’m suffering an illness and have been hanging in there without him for years, and we both keep strong for each other. There are a few guys in there that do need to come out as they do not belong there and are good people, just that comunities are too scared and prefer not to know this that some are good people, but they cross them out and right them off as dead-men “out of sight and out of mind”, there are good christain men in commitment centers, just as or better in your own church and I would trust them in my comunity.
I pray for the ones that need to be released, that god grant them out and home. As for the ones that don’t need to be out and do, well all I can say is that “If” they do bad things (as wel asl every one else on the out) they need to go back and do time.
Why catertize all in a facility as worst when this is not true (not all apples are bad in the bag), check it out and get to know the truth before judging a person, as they are Gods people too. It’s killing me to live my life without my husband, I can barely walk and do for my self and need him so much.
I just wish people could see the other side of things instead of judging, we all sin and have repeated so one day we shall see our loved ones and live in perfect love.

By: just dumb

just dumb — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:32:56 +0000

i worked there for 3yrs… first off there is no cure.. they need seperated from society and thats wht the facility provides. period. For the patients its not a disease, illness, or treatable condition… its like being thirsty for water and the only cure is to drink… you can put it off for a period of time yes but eventually they all drink… I nor anyone I can think of would like anyone of these men living in my community ungaurded… and those of you that think they should need to wager their childrens safety on that admission… as for the things they DONT have… tvs ect… they were until the privilage was abused… hell they were aloud some out landish things up until 5-6 years ago…

By: mike hatton

mike hatton — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:10:25 +0000

Oh yeah doesnt these so called doctors have a pill for everything? Wheres the pill to help these guys

By: mike hatton

mike hatton — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:04:21 +0000

The men in this so called treatment facility are wrong for what they have done, and yes they have committed a heinous crime against the many young men and women that they victimized and traumatized. They have proven they need help for their sexual addiction, one that is a curable disease. But how are they being cured when they are deprived of every civil right we as Americans have had since day one? In what way are they learning they have done wrong when they are not allowed the basic necessity such as a television or being able to call their loved ones such as parents spouses and in many cases their families? Our government has taken their lives away, made them more of a of a threat then if they were actually treated in a more reasonable fashion. It has cost the taxpayers millions upon millions of dollars to house these men then it would actually cost to treat these men, what is it $144,000 per year for one individual to be civilly committed there. And who is paying that, certainly not the ones that are making the choices to keep these men away from society. If there is anyone out there that would like to help these men and their families and most of all our society my e-mail is ogichiidaa27@yahoo.com we need to stand up against these predators running our country into the ground!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These predators are the ones deeming what is necessary to put dollars in their own pockets and not do a damn thing to help society are reform these men back into decent respectable members of our society and communities,

By: freedomwriter

freedomwriter — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 23:31:31 +0000

Why even have a justice system or sentencing in these cases? Just parade them in front of a judge and give them life! If people who have committed multiple crimes are so dangerous then they should be given life sentences through the justice system. That is how this country works. Well it did until these laws. With courts abandoning their duties to uphold individual and constitutional rights WE the people have NO protection.

The moment anyone of us supports a “civil” law that allows the government to keep people, of any group, confined is the moment all of society is in danger.

Government is always more, MORE, never less. Once they have made all the political hay they can off this group they will move on to another group.

As a father I am disgusted and deeply distrubed at any abuse of children but we should all be very scared of where this is headed.

By: Missy

Missy — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 20:21:27 +0000

So many of the guys there need so other form a treatment that place is nothing but hell. The guys can’t do anything. They don’t even have the right to talk to who they want on the phone they don’t get there mail because staff don’t think they should have it. There kids there boys that had a very bad up bringing that could really benifit from a real family some love and just some teaching but they get put in this hell and become even more messed up. I liked what someone said about a C.D. Program they all have an illness that needs treatment but yet offenders are treated so different . I’m not saying that all the men there should be released because there are some there that that place is to good for them they should have stayed in prison. But I believe that over half of them should not be there. I think they need to let them out also. I worked in moose lake for 6 months

By: Tami

Tami — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:53:29 +0000

Everyone here makes a valid point but why can’t the government come up with a viable solution? Fear is what created the program and fear can be a very powerful emotion.
The sex offender program in St. Peter is ran like a prison, right down to the razor wire on the outside enclosures. It is supposed to be overseen by the Dept. of Human Services, but I think that the DOC has alot of involvement behind the scenes. Why is it ran like this? Four men escaped with the help of 7 employees and now the rest have to suffer for their mistake. The same as when Dru S. was killed. Nobody wants to take the blame so it becomes a witch hunt for everybody that is a sex offender. There will always be a handful that slip through the cracks and not just sex offenders. I think that the problem has always been around, but is now coming to light with the way news gets around, television, internet, etc.
I happen to think that people who manufature meth should be locked up and the key thrown away. They are making and selling this to our kids.
A first time offender gets 4 years in prison, gets out, gets a job, is buying a house, goes to treatment in Mankato weekly, and visits with a shrink weekly. Dru gets killed and the witch hunt starts. 2 people from human services, social worker from the center in Mankato, and his shrink alll testify on his behalf. All evidence points that he is a functioning member of society, but the judge is too afraid and commits him.
We have all lost on this. I am sorry for Dru’s family. They have lost a daughter. I in turn have lost my son to the Minnesota Sex Offender Program. The first time offender is my son and I am very proud of him.

Their treatment is a joke.

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:32:26 +0000

I find this interesting as they complain about the cost. If the person is a danger to others and himself then yes keep him. He must be mentally ill and the way he acts out is sexual. Many get violent that are mentally ill and have to be kept sedated for their protection and others. It just is. However if they are able to function and the only reason they are there is people are afraid of them that’s a different story. What is it? You can’t have it both ways. If this cost so be it.

but so many other programs cost that you could do something about and the result would save the states money. One would be to trim back the amount of sex offenders you make register. But someone would be afraid so maybe not. Even if its proven to be over blown and bulgging.But we must fear what we don’t know. Take expensive steps to continue and then complain about the cost.

When politicians run for election a lot of them will say I’m tough on crime. I will make sex offenders do more time. I will punish them more vote for me. Well hey who wouldn’t want a sex offender to do more time. To be tracked for life. Who is signing a blank check while we vote with emotion and elect people that have nothing better to promise. Remember its only money and if it save just one child its all worth it. till it doesn’t work and hasn’t and we have a system that is bleeding us dry and can’t stop it.

One approach would be to cut the registry back to the five percent that are really a danger. this would free up police to watch the ones that are. also take a lot less but hey that would put some one out of work that is part of the over head for the state/ cut state spending? never.

What we fail to understand and I’m sure that every government employee will argue this to the death is that every program we vote for adds more government. Every person that works for the government is over head. You can’t say well they pay taxes to because the money they pay it with is the same tax dollars they are paid with.so cut programs back to where they really work. Cut the number of people that are running these programs that don’t work and you save all the way around.

Fear is a very compelling way to politic. I would have to question their morals when they use the fear of something or hate to gain an election. One trait of an offender is to be manipulative to groom their victims in to compliance. Well people we have been groomed and victimized to the point where we can’t afford this any more.

By: Honest opinion

Honest opinion — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:40:09 +0000

The ACLU of Minnesota (Contact) represents men at Moose Lake who allege it is more like a prison than a treatment center.

The Dept of Corrections has it listed as one of it’s institutions and they name all residents in this institution ‘INMATES’!

It’s not MORE like a prison, it is a ‘PRISON’ and it’s meant to be a PRISON! Do they think American people are that ignorant!

You can take a virtual tour through Minnesota prisons it’s listed as : tour http://www.corr.state.mn.us/aboutdoc/tour/default.htm

MCF-Moose Lake Unit 1 Hallway 3-man room in Sex Offender Treatment Wing

It looks like a DUCK, it waddles like a DUCK, Quacks like a DUCK! But, according to those producing and concocting MURDER Laws, it’s a ‘DOG’! Bow Wow, People!
Their making room for your loved ones , with your tax dollars!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:59:50 +0000

Civil Commitment is just another way to get money from us taxpayers. The majority of the guys in Moose Lake are NOT dangerous and if the prisons released them they deserve another chance. Murders get out of prison with NO labels on their backs and they aren’t tracked down and locked up again for no reason. Half the population has never even heard of civil commitment and have no idea what is being done to these guys who did their time. There is NO treatment being given these guys and they have fewer rights than they did in prison. It’s a concentration camp and nothing more. A pathetic waste of our money and human life.