Louisiana lawmakers passed legislation this week that allows judges to sentence child sex offenders to surgical castration. Assuming the bill is signed into law, as is expected, Louisiana will become the latest member of a growing list of states to have a castration law on the books.
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Several states have laws allowing chemical castration. Alabama passed a bill in 2019, a year after Oklahoma legislators made a bid to do the same. California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Montana, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin also have some form of chemical castration laws. In some states, offenders can opt for the surgical procedure to reduce their jail time.
“Chemical castration or testosterone-lowering medications are effective for certain types of sexual offending,” Dr. Renee Sorrentino, a forensic psychiatrist and founder of the Institute of Sexual Wellness, told Newsweek.
Dr. Sorrentino, who has worked with chemical castration for over a decade, emphasized that these procedures are not a “silver bullet.” They tend to be more effective in individuals with problematic sexual behaviors, and not necessarily because of an antisocial orientation or personality structure.
“Mandated chemical castration for sexual offenders should be viewed like other forms of mandated treatment. The decision should be rooted in scientific evidence that such treatment will decrease sex offender recidivism,” she said.
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Opponents argue the punishment is cruel and unusual. They question its effectiveness as a deterrent and raise concerns about potential constitutional challenges. Some argue it is too harsh a punishment for a first-time offender.
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I just read that the Louisiana governor signed their law passed by the legislature into law with an effective date of August 1st, so they can now join the list of others.