Chemical Castration for Repeat Sex Offenders

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Chemical Castration for Repeat Sex Offenders

Child molestation and sexual assault is an ever growing problem in the United States today, but an even bigger problem is that these pedophiles are being released after only serving as little as one quarter of their sentence. In California alone (at the time the bill was first passed), there was an estimated 680 individuals on parole for molestation and other sexual assaults including sodomy by force with a victim under the age of thirteen as well as child molestation with foreign objects.

The practice of castrating violent criminals can be traced back to Germany in the 1930s, and throughout Europe. It has shown to be one of the most effective deterrents for sexual assault, however inhumane it seems, if one child is spared from violation it is worth the controversy. Statistics state that more than half of all sexual offenders have been convicted more than once. Had we recognized the severity of the offense the first time and dealt with it accordingly, our number of victims could have been reduced by more than half.

Chemical castration is viewed as infringing on an individuals right for personal autonomy and their right to dictate the chemical treatments their body goes under. Everyone does have the right to personal autonomy, but when someone takes it upon them to violate another individuals right to personal autonomy, it negates theirs and severe consequences are in order. One can not expect to be graced with rights and protection by the constitution if they can not uphold the rights of those around them. This isn’t something menial such as invasion of privacy; this is the physical and emotional violation of our family, friends, but most often...

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...any case studies that have had positive results, and personal statements from convicted sex offenders who state the effectiveness of the Depo-Provera injections is 100%. For now voluntary chemical castration is good, but with a medical therapy that is having such a drastic result on such a severe problem and is still being fought, time is wasting and people are paying for it with their dignity. I think to hear of someone, even a child, enduring such a violation, we empathize but do not fully comprehend the importance of preventing this kind of abuse. We are so quick to save those children with bruises and visible signs of abuse, but we are even quicker to return a child to a sexually abusive home for a second chance. The first time is enough, the first time it happens, shame on him, the second, shame on us because they should never have had a second opportunity.

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