Minnesota urgently seeks secure nursing home unit for former prisoners

Minnesota is urgently seeking a secure nursing home unit where current and former prisoners are separate from other residents, according to Minnesota Corrections Commissioner Joan Fabian. No such site exists, she told the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and she asked Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach to give it a high priority.

There is talk of building one at a private nursing home, or the state-owned Ah-Gwah-Ching nursing home in Walker.

Two weeks ago, Gov. Tim Pawlenty ordered Concordia Care Center to segregate the sex offenders from the other residents following a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Mike Hatch. Two of the sex offenders allegedly sexually assaulted other residents. Minnesota now has a new policy of segregation.