politics

Convicted sex offenders would face state prison sentences of 25 years, double the current penalty, under a proposal made Tuesday by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Pawlenty made the push for toughened sentencing while repeating his pitch to spend $89 million to expand the sex offender facility at Moose Lake.

The bonding bill for construction projects working its way through the DFL-controlled legislature doesn't include money for the Moose Lake facility.

With 552 offenders currently housed there, Pawlenty said it will be full by the end of 2012, based on current conviction rates.

Speaking of sex offenders, Pawlenty said they "need to be kept off the streets as long as possible ... We need to get more and more of these individuals locked up as long as possible."

Under current law, offenders convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct without so-called "heinous elements" face a maximum sentence of 30 years, which usually results in a presumptive sentence of 12 years, Pawlenty said. His proposal would make that sentence 25 years.

Pawlenty said the cost of imprisoning offenders under the increased sentences would be "nominal" over the next 25 years, "maybe $5 million."

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Mee Mou, DFL-St. Paul, praised Pawlenty's proposal, but cautioned that its impact on the state's budget must be closely examined.

Pawlenty also announced an internet safety education program that will be made available to schools statewide.

The NetSmartz program, developed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), provides detailed information for students, teachers, parents and law enforcement about potential dangers children can face when they go online.

Educators will be provided with training and instruction materials that can be used to help educate students about online risks.

Pawlenty said the program, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, won't cost school districts anything.