Hi,
Just read the following article on the Yahoo news site. The original report is from Sky News. Interesting that such a taboo subject is now in the mainstream news in the UK, maybe now there is some hope for people who have not committed any sexual crimes to get what we want.
Andy
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By Sky News SkyNews - Wednesday, August 27 09:27 am
Convicted paedophiles who fear committing repeat offences are being offered the chance to be chemically castrated.
(Advertisement)
Criminal psychiatrist Professor Don Grubin is promoting drugs which curb sexual urges to offenders as part of a voluntary trial scheme.
Its supporters believe the preventative measure will dramatically reduce the chance of reoffending.
Tests show the reversible drugs limit testosterone levels, reducing sexual intent or arousals.
Chemical castration is delivered through pills, injections or implants which limit the production of testosterone and therefore diminish the sex drive.
Antiandrogens, which starve testosterone, are already used in this country when treating prostate cancer.
The pilot scheme, welcomed by anti-paedophile campaigners, has taken its lead from a similar practice in Canada.
The Royal Ottawa Mental Healthcare Centre treats 188 "medium to high risk" patients.
Prof Grubin, of the Institute of Neuroscience at Newcastle University, has been given the green light as part of a new Department of Health initiative.
The castration is not seen as a punishment or parole condition, which would breach offenders' human rights.
UK offer Castration to Sex Offenders
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amm_uk (imported)
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considering (imported)
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Re: UK offer Castration to Sex Offenders
According to both law enforcement and penologist Paedophilia is one of the most likely crimes to be repeated. All persons who fit in this group must be considered and what one finds is that only a small proportion of those who molest children are ever detected. Certainly when there is violent rape or death or a much repeated offense, then the person is prosecuted however, that's still a very small number. I regret to put it this way but...the "casual Paedophile" is virtually never even known. We find ourselves confronted again with the definition of what constitutes molestation?
In so far as those who are convicted and this is offered it's probably not a bad thing. However, I find it disturbing that acceptance does not seemingly effect parole or the basic conviction. Were it made a condition of release I still would not be convinced. The British penal system is known for having light sentences albeit one will usually serve the full time given. A quote from a Commander in the Metropolitan London Police Authority gives a clue. It's "We bring charges against far fewer people than in America, but once charges are laid, they usually result in conviction." As per the molestation/castration issue what this means is that an even smaller number of molesters will be brought before the bar and, regardless of what may be suggested about possible molesters, they are not likely to be charged.
Even in prisons it's a fact that Paedophiles are the most likely to be attacked by other inmates, so much so that they are usually kept in segregated areas. I do not suggest that prisoners could or should be the validators of the crimes of others but it's significant that they know the realities of crimes. And this is a crime that has a very high recidivism rate. Would chemical castration alter that number? Very difficult to say. It's an experiment that needs a broad base of incidents to be studied over a very long time. What needs to be asked is if the implied risk is worth taking?
In so far as those who are convicted and this is offered it's probably not a bad thing. However, I find it disturbing that acceptance does not seemingly effect parole or the basic conviction. Were it made a condition of release I still would not be convinced. The British penal system is known for having light sentences albeit one will usually serve the full time given. A quote from a Commander in the Metropolitan London Police Authority gives a clue. It's "We bring charges against far fewer people than in America, but once charges are laid, they usually result in conviction." As per the molestation/castration issue what this means is that an even smaller number of molesters will be brought before the bar and, regardless of what may be suggested about possible molesters, they are not likely to be charged.
Even in prisons it's a fact that Paedophiles are the most likely to be attacked by other inmates, so much so that they are usually kept in segregated areas. I do not suggest that prisoners could or should be the validators of the crimes of others but it's significant that they know the realities of crimes. And this is a crime that has a very high recidivism rate. Would chemical castration alter that number? Very difficult to say. It's an experiment that needs a broad base of incidents to be studied over a very long time. What needs to be asked is if the implied risk is worth taking?
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nullorchis (imported)
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Re: UK offer Castration to Sex Offenders
Most of life is directed by beliefs, not facts, and I am not believing that castration will "cure" a pedophile. To me it is nothing but cruel and unusual punishment (to one who doesn't want to be castrated) and a gimmick by society to somehow try and punish pedophiles with torture.
ANYONE who sexually preys on other people (pedophiles and rapists of any sex with any sex of any age) need to be physically removed from society so that they can not commit a repeat offense. (in my opinion).
Prison is undoubtedly such an awful place (no experience with this) that I can imagine one would agree to being sexually mutilated as a trade off to get out of prison. The lesser of two evils so to speak.
I also doubt that someone would commit pedophile acts just to get into prison so that they could get a legal castration, that being what they wanted in the first place.
If we locked up all sexual predators for life and threw away the key that is the only way to keep them from committing a repeat performance. And even knowing that forcing yourself onto another sexually, if convicted, would condemn you to life in prison still won't prevent people from doing it.
The main risk here is that many people are arrested, convicted, and sent to jail when they are innocent. That would make me just want to end my life. That would be a cross too awful to handle. Being innocent and in prison. Just about the worst thing that can possibly happen to someone.
ANYONE who sexually preys on other people (pedophiles and rapists of any sex with any sex of any age) need to be physically removed from society so that they can not commit a repeat offense. (in my opinion).
Prison is undoubtedly such an awful place (no experience with this) that I can imagine one would agree to being sexually mutilated as a trade off to get out of prison. The lesser of two evils so to speak.
I also doubt that someone would commit pedophile acts just to get into prison so that they could get a legal castration, that being what they wanted in the first place.
If we locked up all sexual predators for life and threw away the key that is the only way to keep them from committing a repeat performance. And even knowing that forcing yourself onto another sexually, if convicted, would condemn you to life in prison still won't prevent people from doing it.
The main risk here is that many people are arrested, convicted, and sent to jail when they are innocent. That would make me just want to end my life. That would be a cross too awful to handle. Being innocent and in prison. Just about the worst thing that can possibly happen to someone.
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JesusA (imported)
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Re: UK offer Castration to Sex Offenders
There has been a great deal of research on the impact of castration, chemical and surgical, voluntary and involuntary, on recidivism rates of sexual offenders. I think that the best article on the subject that I have found is Castration in Germany (http://www.eunuch.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=8762), by Reinhard Wille and Klaus M. Beier.
The subject is also discussed on the thread Rapist Castration Report ( http://www.eunuch.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=11913).
The subject is also discussed on the thread Rapist Castration Report ( http://www.eunuch.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=11913).
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Kangan (imported)
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Re: UK offer Castration to Sex Offenders
Castration will not cure pedophilia, but it will help the offender to control his abnormal urges. I know from personal experience.
Locking someone up for life in a prison is also cruel and unusual punishment, in my opinion. Given the choice of castration or prison, I would take castration.
There are two types of sex offenders - one kind merely has abnormal desires -- the other kind wants to use sex as a dominance or control factor (rapist, and the like). The latter variety of pedophile cannot be cured of his urges, while the non-violent offender usually is receptive to therapy and has a much lower chance of recividism. I fall into this category, as I was involved in a mutally consensual but underage relationship, and subsequent to therapy have never committed any further offenses. I used castration as a way to further reinforce my self-control.
Locking someone up for life in a prison is also cruel and unusual punishment, in my opinion. Given the choice of castration or prison, I would take castration.
There are two types of sex offenders - one kind merely has abnormal desires -- the other kind wants to use sex as a dominance or control factor (rapist, and the like). The latter variety of pedophile cannot be cured of his urges, while the non-violent offender usually is receptive to therapy and has a much lower chance of recividism. I fall into this category, as I was involved in a mutally consensual but underage relationship, and subsequent to therapy have never committed any further offenses. I used castration as a way to further reinforce my self-control.
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curious1 (imported)
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Re: UK offer Castration to Sex Offenders
If offering castration will help prevent even the smallest number of people convicted of sex offences from reoffending, then I am all for it. I do think that if this is something the UK is going to do, then they should offer some type of counseling to go along with it. Sex offenders often have psychological issuses as well as sexual issues.