Judge Refuses to Delay Changes to Minnesota Sex Offender Program

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A judge has rejected a motion by the state of Minnesota to stay his order requiring changes to the state's program for confining sex offenders after their prison sentences.

U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank declared the program unconstitutional in June. Last month he ordered changes including risk assessments for all offenders in the program to determine which can be put on a path toward release. The state asked him to suspend that order pending an appeal.

But in an order Monday, Frank said the state failed to prove a strong likelihood that it will win on appeal or suffer irreparable harm without a stay.

However, the judge reset the deadlines from last month's order so they start running Monday.

The state can still ask an appeals court for a stay.