ST. PETER — Sex offenders in Minnesota’s treatment facilities in St. Peter and Moose Lake are specifically barred from ordering or reading newspapers that cover those communities.

The director of the Minnesota Sex Offender programs said the policy protects staff members. Nancy Johnston said they don’t want offenders having access to personal information about facility employees or their families.

The ban has been in place since 2007 and was updated in August to specify three newspapers: The Free Press, the St. Peter Herald and the Moose Lake Star Gazette. The Free Press inquired about the policy after a Moose Lake inmate mailed the newspaper a copy of the policy with a letter of complaint.

Johnston said local newspapers could also include maps that could aid escape attempts. She said offenders can subscribe to any other newspapers they want.

Johnston said the policy was not put in place in response to a specific event. She said she’s never had complaints from inmates.

A Corrections Department official said local papers are allowed at state prisons.