Discuss Level III Predatory Offender Residency Restrictions

There is currently no Minnesota laws that restrict where a level III predatory offender can live upon release from prison or treatment facility.  However, at least 39 of Minnesota cities have adopted ordinances creating residency restrictions for level III predatory offenders. The MN Department of Corrections assigns a risk level to predatory offenders and Level III offenders are deemed the highest risk to re offend.  MN law requires community notification for a level III predatory offender moving into a community.  The city of Ramsey currently has no level III predatory offenders living in the community.

In 2015, US District court judge Donovan Frank ruled that the Minnesota Sex Offender Treatment Program (MSOP) was unconstitutional and ordered changes to MSOP practices.  The potential existed that predatory offenders could be released from state run treatment facilities.  According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, there are approximately 17,500 registered predatory offenders in Minnesota of which 370 are Level III offenders living in Minnesota communities and 800 are currently in prison, jail or a secure treatment facility. The state of Minnesota appealed the decision to the US court of appeals in April of 2016. No appeals court decision has been published to date. 

In 2016, the neighboring cities of Anoka and Andover passed ordinances adopting residency restrictions for level III predatory offenders.  Level III predatory offenders are restricted in those cities from permanently or temporarily residing within 2000 feet of a licensed daycare, school, park, or place of assembly for children. 

The purpose of this case is for council discussion on the city of Ramsey enacting ordinances that place restrictions on residency for level III predatory offenders.  Attached to the case are ordinances from the cities of Andover and Anoka, a proposed city of Ramsey ordinance, and a map of Ramsey with the 2000 foot buffer (licensed day cares, parks, schools) applied. 

30 minutes.

Police Chief
City Attorney
Community Development Director

Council direction is sought on whether to bring forward an ordinance regarding level III predatory offender residency restrictions and, if so, with what types of restrictions.