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MT. PLEASANT, IOWA -- Due to layoffs, some sex offenders could be released without counseling. 

The Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility will lay off eight sex offender counselors.  Fewer counselors mean a possible back log in the system.  Many employees have voiced concerns that sex offenders would not get the treatment before being released.

KTVO asked superintendent Ron Mullen if this is a likely outcome.

“Well it’s certainly a possibility. We’re gonna strive to get everyone of the offenders treatment opportunity," said Mullen.

Sex offenders currently have to serve a sentence and during that time, counseling is part of a sentence.  If there are fewer counselors, then it could delay offenders from being released.

Some employees now fear that there might be lawsuits filed by sex offenders for a delay in their release.  This could bring about sex offenders having not been counseled before they leave the correction facility. 

“There’s always that chance.  I mean there’s a chance now that someone might get out without treatment because maybe they were in denial and they were removed from treatment and they never completed," Mullen said.

Mullen insists the facility will make every effort to treat each individual.  The counselors were laid off after $2.7 million in budget cuts to the facility.