The so-called sexual predator program allows certain sex offenders to be committed for mental health treatment after their prison terms if a court finds they are likely to re-offend if released.

The Department of Health and Family Services, which oversees treatment of committed offenders, said there have been 22 actual commitments this year, on pace with the 27 last year but up from 24 in 2003.

Tess said the increase in referrals stems from a 2004 change in the civil commitment standards which lowered the threshold from "substantially probable to re-offend" to "probable."