Men at Moose Lake sex offender facility end 2-week hunger strike
The sex offenders in the program are demanding a clear path for release from the facility, and state officials have agreed to discuss that with them.
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A group of men at the Minnesota Sex Offender Program s Moose Lake facility have ended their hunger strike after nearly two weeks.
The group went on strike Jan. 21, demanding a clear path for release from the program, which has facilities in Moose Lake and St. Peter, where treatment is a death sentence because despite serving their prison sentences, they re remanded to the facilities for an unspecified amount of time, a news release says.
Man commits suicide in Moose Lake sex offender facility
The Minnesota Department of Human Services says a 45-year-old man in the Minnesota Sex Offender Program s Moose Lake facility took his own life last weekend, the first completed suicide in the program s history, records indicate.
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News Tips | 2:50 pm, Aug. 9, 2013
The Minnesota Department of Human Services says a 45-year-old man in the Minnesota Sex Offender Program s Moose Lake facility took his own life last weekend, the first completed suicide in the program s history, records indicate.
DHS deputy commissioner Anne Barry said the man attempted suicide Friday evening and died of his injuries Saturday. She said DHS is investigating the incident. The department provided no other personal details, citing privacy laws.
DHS commissioner voices support for state treatment program funding
DHS commissioner voices support for state treatment program funding By Kelsey Barchenger | February 3, 2021 at 1:14 PM CST - Updated February 3 at 1:14 PM
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KEYC) - Minnesotaâs Department of Human Services Commissioner is stressing the need for funding for the stateâs treatment programs.
Governor Walzâs proposed budget includes a $68 million increase for state-operated treatment facilities. That would include the Minnesota Sex Offender Program and Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter. DHS says its treatment programs face a budget shortfall due to rising staff compensation expenses and third-party reimbursement rates. Without the budget increase, the department says it will have to scale back or eliminate programs and services.
Updated: 3:35 p.m.
Minnesota officials on Monday reported another 22 COVID-19 deaths, continuing an already dreadful December. But other key metrics are showing definite signs of hope.
New daily caseloads and hospital admissions continue to retreat from their late November, early December peaks.
The Health Department posted 1,998 newly confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases the lowest count since late October, part of more than a week of relatively moderate new caseloads. Officials expected a surge originating from Thanksgiving gatherings, but it hasn’t happened yet.
The number of active, confirmed cases in Minnesota is down to around 21,000, the lowest since Nov. 4.
The agency said 1,040 people were in the hospital with COVID-19 as of Sunday, with 237 needing intensive care. While that’s still fairly high, the seven-day trend for new hospital admissions has dropped to levels not seen since early November.