Sex Offenders Illegally Confined
[The New York Sun reports that two sex offenders, who had been held involuntarily at mental hospitals after their prison sentences ended, were set free into the wild blue yonder this month.] They are the first to be released since the states highest court ruled that prison officials acted illegally when they transferred more than 100 sex offenders to mental hospitals sans court order. Governor Pataki had ordered these transfers back in 2005. Though a court hearing on the matter was expected to take place in the very near future, the court had not yet ordered the releases. Instead, they were prompted by state psychologists for the Office of Mental Health who found that the two offenders did not require such aid and supervision. Had the hearing taken place, Attorney General Cuomo was expected to assert that the men should remain confined. Apparently, a lawyer with knowledge of the case told the paper that one of the men was convicted of 2nd degree assault over 15 years ago, possibly on charges of rape in Queens. While he does not seem to be a registered sex offender, the second man is.