Secure Services Unit released seven in 2009

Talk about it

Alex Schweitzer, superintendent of the North Dakota State Hospital, included an update on a program that treats sex offenders during in his regular report to the hospital governing board Monday.

The State Hospital’s Secure Services Unit, in existence since 1997, houses 65 individuals and has a capacity of 85 beds. Over the life of the program, 12 men have been released.

“A lot of judges are looking at releasing these guys,” Schweitzer said. “We try to get ahead of that.”

Part of the process of preparing the sex offenders for eventual release involves transitional housing on the grounds of the State Hospital. Schweitzer said patients involved in the traditional housing program are allowed more freedom than when they were housed in the secure unit but their movements are monitored by GPS systems.

“We have a zero tolerance for any sort of infraction,” Schweitzer said. “If they violate any of the rules about where they can be and what they can do, they’re right back in the secure unit.”

Of the 12 released from the State Hospital, seven were discharged in 2009. None of the patients released has been readmitted to the State Hospital but one committed a new offense and is currently incarcerated in California.

“Internally we always assumed there would be releases,” said Kerry Wicks, executive director of the State Hospital’s Chemical Dependency Services Unit. “Naturally, the treatment of sex offenders has changed over the years. We didn’t release any during the first five years of the program.”

Schweitzer said the costs of housing and treating a sex offender in the unit are $86,344 per year. He said this was down from about $130,000 per year early in the life of the program.

In other business, the board heard a list of suggested projects for the upcoming biannual budget. Schweitzer suggested replacing utilities in the employee’s building, creating a centralized chapel and developing a plan for the 16 West building would all be considered when developing the next budget.

The board also reviewed plans for the upcoming 125th Anniversary Celebration for the State Hospital. The three-day event will begin on May 5 and include tours of the facility, social and musical events and an all-hospital picnic.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at (701) 952-8452 or by e-mail at knorman@jamestownsun.com

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