Chemical Castration for Child Molesters in Poland
Is Castrating Child Molesters in the US Next?
Chemical Castration in Poland
In Poland it is now the law for child molesters to undergo chemical castration, if a judge so desires. This affects child molesters released from prison after serving time for raping a child younger than 15. Reuters reports that the Polish government sees castration of pedophiles as a means of ensuring public safety as well as the former convict's mental health. Although human rights groups are protesting this decision, Poland stands firm in its decision to deal with child molesters via chemical castration.
Sex Offenders in the United States
According to 1994 statistics published by the Bureau of Justice, there were 234,000 convicted sex offenders, of which 60% were actually released into their communities under supervision. The average age of child molesters' victims at that time was 13. By 1997, 5.3% of the 9,691 sex offenders that were let out of prison in 1994 in a total of 15 states were once again arrested for another sex crime. Of these rearrested criminals, about 40% did not even make it past the one year mark of remaining sex crime free. Among the 4,300 child molesters set free in 1994, 3.3% became repeat offenders within three years.
What is Chemical Castration?
In simplest terms, chemical castration entails the injection of a man with Depo Provera, which is a currently available progestin birth control injection offered to women. Its effectiveness lasts about three months, and it is considered reversible within three to 18 months. Chemically castrating a male would involve injecting this birth control device once every three months. The rationale behind this step, as is pointed out by a Bryn Mawr College student paper, is the reduction of testosterone in the male body, which in turn should decrease sexual urges in general and deviant sexual desires and the urgency to act on them in particular.
Is Chemical Castration Unconstitutional?
The Florida State University Law Review makes it clear that the ACLU is quite vociferous in its protest against chemically castrating sex offenders -- or giving any form of medication to a convict -- if it is designed to change a behavior. On the flipside, if convicts were offered an anti androgen therapy in lieu of incarceration, the ACLU would agree to the ethical propriety of the treatment.
Is Chemical Castration Effective in Prevention Child Molesters from Reoffending?
USA Today suggests that chemically castrating a child molester may work physically, but it does not deal with the psychiatric pathology. Moreover, there is the truism that even impotent men commit sex crimes; they just change their methods. Additionally, who is going to track the sex offenders and hunt them down every three months, if they miss an appointment for their shot?
Of course, chemical castration of child molesters and other sex offenders is better than merely releasing them into the communities and hoping for the best. Unfortunately, "better" is not good enough in this case.
Sources
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE58O4LE20090925
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm#child
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1778
http://www.law.fsu.edu/journals/lawreview/frames/252/spalfram.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnists/wickham/2001-09-04-wickham.htm
Published by Sylvia Cochran - Featured Contributor in Automotive, Politics, Travel and Lifestyle
Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing -- full-time -- since 2005. SEO-optimized Internet copy includes news analysis, political Op/Ed and parenting as well as a... View profile
- The Reality of Child Molesters in ChurchIt does not make much sense to ignore the likelihood that there are one or more child molesters attending every church in the country .
- Child Sex Offenders: Classifications of Child MolestersOffering a look at the two common classes of child molesters; individuals who commit sex crimes against children.
Death Sentence for Child MolestersSex Molesters Will Be Executed- Is Mary Kaye Letourneau a Sex Offender?When she is released in 2004, Mary K. Letourneau will have a felony on her record. She will register with the state of Washington as a child sex offender, convicted of the "rape of a child in the second degree: (9RCW...
- Uncle Bob Secrets Child Molesters Don't Want You to KnowThe view from the inside.
- Sex Offender Registration: The Hidden Secrets
- Female Sex Offenders: Classifications
- Sex Crime Punishment: Chemical Castration
- Not All Child Molesters Are Men, My Biggest Secrets
- Threat of Death Penalty Will Turn Child Molesters in to Child Killers
- Child Molesters and Terrorist Wackos - an Amicable Solution
- Child Molesters in My Neighborhood: When a Typo Endangers Innocent Lives
- Chemical Castration in Poland
- Sex Offenders in the United States
- What is Chemical Castration?
8 Comments
Post a CommentI hear castration is really the only thing that does deter most of these criminals.
Very touchy subject matter and you presented it cogently. I don't know..I don't feel any sympathy for the child molester, but it almost sounds too easy. I hate that we have to "support" child molesters in jail though and have our hard earned tax dollars pay for their upkeep.
Well researched and nicely written.
Very interesting topic! Castration is one thing....but I personally think anyone who rapes a child (a forcible violent act to include penetration) and is convicted through either DNA or other credible evidence should be put to death. In all cases. Anyone who molests a child (touching, fondling, enticing, etc) should face 1-20 years, case by case. Child to be defined in both cases at age 14 and under. To eliminate more frivolous cases of young lust, no person who is under the age of 20 would be punished for relations with anyone over the age of 15, so long as the relations were consensual. For violent rape of any person over the age of 14, I think the death penalty should still apply but the jury could choose from that OR 10, 15, 20 years or life in prison, depending on the case.
How about we simply don't release anyone who sexually molests a child under the age of 12. If it can be proven without a doubt, well then.. I cant think of a more appropriate use of capitol punishment.
Chemical Castration is too easy...
I remember reading somewhere in college (perhaps a Psych class) that castrating sex offenders can lead them to using something else. While they may not be able to, er, rise to the occasion, they often use other ways to penetrate their victims.
Wow, I thought you meant that literally and I was trying to figure out how that was possible! LOL Great information!