Court to Hear Arguments in Sex Offender Program Case

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal appeals court is set to consider the constitutionality of Minnesota's sex offender treatment program.

A hearing Tuesday before the three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis is the next step in the long legal fight over the program.

A Minnesota judge last summer ruled the program was unconstitutional. District Judge Donovan Frank cited how rarely anyone gets released from it and ordered several changes. They included assessing the more than 700 people in the program to see which ones should be put on a path for release.

All that was put on hold pending the state's appeal, which will be heard Tuesday.

No immediate ruling is expected.