Residents near where a pedophile will soon be living must now be notified by law enforcement about his or her discharge into their community, closing what some said was a loophole in the notification law.
The law is in response to the court-ordered discharge of Clarence Opheim, the state’s first sex offender discharged from the Minnesota Sex Offender Program in St. Peter. Following nearly 20 years in the treatment program, Opheim is due to be transferred to a halfway house, where he will be required to meet 32 rules of his discharge. Previously, community notification was not required unless the person was being released from the halfway house.
Sponsored by Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R-Lake Elmo) and Sen. Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen), the law is effective Feb. 24, 2012.
HF2394*/
SF1994/CH123
Keeping the courts adequately funded
Public safety finance law doesn’t gut Human Rights Department
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Published 8/11/2011
Governor vetoes public safety bill
At about $1.8 billion in spending, no cuts to courts were proposed
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Published 7/15/2011
DNA - It’s all in the family
Familial DNA could help solve criminal cases, but at what cost?
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Published 4/8/2011
Creating a ‘Safe Harbor’
Wide-ranging support for bill to decriminalize juveniles exploited by prostitution
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Published 4/1/2011
Two omnibus bills merged into one
DFL legislators oppose cuts to Department of Human Rights, Civil Legal Services
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Published 4/1/2011
Safety versus savings
Home fire sprinklers would be costly, but can save lives
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Published 3/4/2011
Minnesota Index: State corrections
Figures and statistics on Minnesota's correctional system
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Published 2/25/2011
How young is too young?
Committee debates age for youth being charged as an adult in certain cases
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Published 2/18/2011