February 21, 2005
CONTROLLING THOSE WHO CAN'T CONTROL THEMSELVES:
Castration proposed for sex offenders (Conrad Defiebre, February 18, 2005, Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Serious sex offenders who prey on children in Minnesota should be subject to court-ordered castration -- surgical or chemical -- a group of Republican legislators proposed Thursday."At first glance that may seem to be a little overboard," said Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, chief sponsor of a bill introduced in the House to promote what he called "asexual rehabilitation" for pedophiles. "But it would control the urges that they cannot control themselves."
Scientific research in Europe has shown that chemical castration with regular injections of antiandrogen drugs such as depo provera can reduce recidivism by child sex offenders to near zero, said Emmer, a lawyer and freshman legislator who has seven children in school. [...]
A 1991 Star Tribune Minnesota Poll found support among 56 percent of the public for surgical castration of repeat sex offenders and 51 percent backing for administering "drugs to make them impotent." The same poll showed 37 percent support for the death penalty for child sex abuse.
The press conference where Hillary Clinton endorses this should be pay-per-view. Posted by Orrin Judd at February 21, 2005 12:48 PM
It won't happen. NAMBLA is always a featured participant at the Stonewall Parade in NYC.
Posted by: Bart at February 21, 2005 1:18 PMAgree with Bart: Sex is so highly exalted in our culture that anything to do with touching anybody's sexuality will be vociferously opposed.
On the other hand, given that exaltation, cutting off someone's pecker would be regarded as a fate worse than death.
Posted by: Ptah at February 21, 2005 1:26 PMi would pay to see her do a praerie oyster move on some of these pervs, oh yes, that would be grand.
Posted by: cjm at February 21, 2005 1:47 PMAll this talk of "chemical castration" is quite unnecessary -- there are more efficient treatment methods available.
Posted by: Mike Morley at February 21, 2005 1:54 PM
Some state proposes this solution about every 5 to 8 years - it never goes anywhere. It's like the death penalty for rape - there are a few roars and cheers, but everything fades to black.
Posted by: jim hamlen at February 21, 2005 2:13 PMJust last week a 6th grade girl was abducted on her way to school in the city I live in (she escaped when she was able to slip out of her backpack and run off). Police finally caught up with the guy and found out he had been convicted of criminal attempt to commit rape in 1981, first-degree criminal attempt to commit sexual abuse in 1986 and criminal attempt to commit rape in 1991 (the two articles can be found here: http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/kentucky/8112380.htm AND http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/kentucky/8116706.htm)
He was a listed sex offender but hadn't lived at his last known address for some time.
I like Mike's idea posted above.
Posted by: Bartman at February 21, 2005 3:09 PMActually, if Hillary supports this, she probably wins back a lot of the radical feminists miffed at her over that abortion speech last month.
Posted by: John at February 21, 2005 3:20 PMIf she didn't start at home, why should she do it now?
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at February 21, 2005 3:38 PMjim:
"About 10 states, including Wisconsin and Iowa, have laws allowing castration of certain sex offenders, the first enacted in California in 1996."
Posted by: oj at February 21, 2005 3:51 PMjust make the castration a voluntary procedure, and put dan rather in charge of the authorization documents..."yup, he signed it, right here"
Posted by: cjm at February 21, 2005 4:33 PMOJ:
Has any ever been enforced or utilized (since at least 1960)?
Even when sex offenders have asked for such treatment, it doesn't happen (to my knowledge).
Posted by: jim hamlen at February 21, 2005 4:51 PMjim:
http://dir.salon.com/health/feature/2000/03/01/castration/index.html
Posted by: oj at February 21, 2005 5:06 PMExcellent article, oj, it explains the issue and the potential problems well. What's needed are clear studies of who would benefit and what the failure rate would be.
Posted by: Steve White at February 21, 2005 10:28 PM