Ramsey County cuts support for sex offender day-treatment center

Dane Jorento has the kind of job many people most likely would pay to avoid. For nine years, he has been the director of ABC Mental Health Therapy, an East Side St. Paul day-treatment center that works with sex offenders who suffer from traumatic brain injury, developmental delays, autism or various forms of mental illness.

The nonprofit clinic is one of three agencies in the metro that offer group therapy to low-IQ sex offenders ranging from peeping Toms to convicted rapists. Of the three agencies, only ABC mainly treats low-income clients.

And within weeks, the only clinic of its kind in Minnesota might close.

Ramsey County decided last year to discontinue its two day-treatment therapy contracts by Dec. 31, although the county has offered ABC an extension through March 31.

"The day treatment services ABC provides are no longer in alignment with the state and county direction toward individualized treatment plans and contemporary evidence-based practices," John Siqveland, a spokesman for Ramsey County, said Tuesday.

Jorento, who has led ABC since its creation, disagrees that his facility's services have fallen out of favor with the state's best practices. In fact, the Minnesota Department of Human Services recently chose ABC Mental Health Therapy as a community partner to provide services to sex offenders who eventually might be released into the community.

At a time when state and federal officials are struggling with how best to treat, monitor and fund services for convicted sex offenders after they have served their criminal sentences, Jorento said he thinks the county's decision is a step in the wrong direction.

His facility is the state's only nonprofit treatment center offering group therapy to low-IQ sex offenders.

"Closing ABC would reduce by 100 percent Minnesota's and Ramsey County's nonprofit options," Jorento said in a Nov.

Jorento said that over the past nine years, Ramsey County's contract with ABC Mental Health -- in a converted movie house on Payne Avenue -- has never required a commitment of county funds or county insurance. Rather, the county served as an authorizer, allowing ABC to access state assistance.

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Ramsey County cuts support for sex offender day-treatment center