The Minnesota Sex Offender Program (MSOP) provides comprehensive services to individuals who have been court-ordered to receive sex-offender-specific treatment. Most MSOP clients have completed prison sentences and as a public safety measure have been civilly committed by the court for an indefinite period of time. Under state law, the court may civilly commit a person as a “sexual psychopathic personality” or a “sexually dangerous person,” or both. While the facilities are secure and clients are not free to leave, MSOP is a treatment program, not a prison or correctional facility of any kind. Participation in treatment is voluntary.
As of June 30, 2025, there were 755 civilly committed clients in the program. Another 64 clients who have been provisionally discharged by the court were living in Minnesota communities under MSOP supervision and monitoring. In addition, fewer than 10 more clients have been granted provisional discharge and were awaiting community placement.
The total operating budget for fiscal year 2025 is $121 million. That equates to a cost of $487 per client per day.
Only a court has the authority to discharge individuals from MSOP. Clients can petition the court for what is known as a reduction in custody. They may ask for:
Once the court receives a client petition for a reduction in custody, a special three-judge panel, known as the Commitment Appeal Panel, hears the case, makes a decision and issues an order. The panel considers such factors as:
As of June 30, 2025:
Since the 1930s, Minnesota has had a civil commitment law since that was primarily used for those determined to be mentally ill and dangerous. It was not until the 1990s that these laws were revised and more widely implemented for sex offenders. MSOP opened in Moose Lake in 1995 to provide treatment to people who were committed as sexually dangerous persons or sexual psychopathic personalities. Prior to that, individuals with a history of sex offending behavior were committed the Forensic Mental Health Program (formerly the Minnesota Security Hospital) in St. Peter under the Psychopathic Personality Law.
Under Minnesota law, victims who want to receive notification of a client's change in status, which includes provisional discharge, must submit a written request to:
MSOP Admissions Coordinator
The Minnesota Sex Offender Program
1111 Highway 73
Moose Lake, MN 55767
Telephone: (218) 565-6230
Email: Darien.R.Bottila@state.mn.us