A federal magistrate Wednesday ordered the creation of a task force to examine Minnesota's sex offender program in response to the filing of a class-action lawsuit by sex offenders in the state's civil commitment program. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the program, which allows the state to continue holding sex offenders beyond their prison sentences if they're regarded as dangerous.

Nancy Johnston has officially been named the new executive director for Minnesota’s Sex Offender program. The Mankato Free Press reports she will permanently oversee the treatment facilities in St. Peter and Moose Lake. Johnston took over as interim director when Dennis Benson retired in June.

Clarence Opheim is about to be the first patient released from the Minnesota sex-offender facility in St. Peter. He could move to a halfway-house as soon as Saturday. The convicted pedophile has spent the past 19 years in the sex-offender program. Republican leaders are concerned and don't want the 64-year-old released, even though a three-judge panel says he has completed treatment.