Many communities across the state have made it clear they don’t want sex offenders living in their area.

 

But the state is expecting counties to find ways to integrate those individuals back into the community.

 

“I’m sure you’ve heard about the lawsuits as these individuals are starting to be released into the community,” Maureen Wilkus, supervisor of the behavioral health and protection unit with Sherburne County Health & Human Services (HHS), told members of the county board last week.

 

Wilkus supervises the county’s adult sex offender program, and integrating those offenders after they’re released is a growing issue.

 

The county currently has 18 individuals in the program. Three are based at the St. Peter facility. Another 15 are at the Moose Lake sex offender facility. One individual is residing at the Zumbro House, which is considered the last step before being located in the community.

 

“The person in Zumbro House is doing well. He has a job, a car and is attending AA,” said Wilkus. “He’s being patient with his living situation.”

 

But trying to make the next step is the most difficult. 

 

“We have been ordered by the special review board to get this person into the community. But trying to find some place for an individual with a sex offense on their record to rent is nearly impossible,” said Wilkus. “At this time, we’ve attempted 42 apartment situations and everybody has turned him down.”

 

She said some communities have passed regulations not allowing sex offenders to rent in their community.

 

“It’s making our job more difficult,” she said.

 

It’s not possible to keep the individuals at the sex offender facilities indefinitely. Once it’s been determined they should be released, the responsibility falls on HHS to take over.

 

“There’s a misconception that all these individuals are under court jurisdiction. But none of them have probation agents or court monitoring,” said Wilkus.

 

“The supervision of this clientele falls entirely on social services. So when we’re mandated to put somebody into the community, it’s a social worker that has to find a place for the individual to go and then supervise them while they’re in the community.”

 

HHS has requested the addition of a case aid position just to locate living situations for the individuals. Not only will taxpayers foot the bill for HHS to place and supervise the offenders, it costs money for every day the offenders aren’t placed. 

 

Last year, the county paid $340,812 to keep the 18 individuals in the two facilities. It’s $155,278 so far this year.

 

“Once they’re released into the community, some of them will be eligible for waiver programs to fund their programming,” said Wilkus. “But some won’t. That’s a budget that will continue to grow as they’re released, or if they stay in the facility.”