Poland okays forcible castration for pedophiles

[Tarquin Farquart]

Poland on Friday approved a law making chemical castration mandatory for pedophiles in some cases, sparking criticism from human rights groups.

Under the law, sponsored by Poland's center-right government, pedophiles convicted of raping children under the age of 15 years or a close relative would have to undergo chemical therapy on their release from prison.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsO...58O4LE20090925

[Joostik]

Not castration but chemical castration:

Chemical castration is the administration of medication designed to reduce libido and sexual activity

Unlike surgical castration, where the testes are removed through an incision in the scrotum, chemical castration does not actually castrate the person, nor is it a form of sterilization, hence the term "chemical castration" has been called a misnomer. Chemical castration is generally considered reversible when treatment is discontinued

[Ryda Wong, EBfCo.]

I'd love to see some good studies on how effective forced chemical castration is.

[BringTheNoise]

I believe that this law would fall foul of the ECHR (from my own research for my uni dissertation, so take with a pinch of salt). I will be paying close attention to this, if it comes to trial.

[Johnny Slick]

As inhumane as it seems, there appear to be some studies that demonstrate a dramatic reduction in recidivism:

http://www.safe-nz.org.nz/Articles/sexoffenders.htm

While most research to date has reviewed surgical castration in Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and Iceland with reported recidivism rates down from 50% to below 5%, Texas has reported repeat offender rates of just 2.2% as compared to a national average of over 20% (the 20% is a low figure but was deduced from a short term study – longitudinal studies show much higher recidivism rates). A report in The New England Journal of Medicine provides further support for the efficacy of chemical castration to reduce recidivism rates, especially that of paedophiles.

Admittedly, that's a very biased site. It does cite its sources though, and it seems to be in line with other stuff I took 30 seconds to Google up. I have to say that I was about to say "it probably has no effect" since it *looks* like little more than a "ha ha punish the bad guys" kind of thing that makes a certain segment happy but in fact does nothing to combat the root problems (specifically, rape and molestation are supposed to be about power, not sex). Sometimes the facts aren't what they "should" be, I guess.

[Ryda Wong, EBfCo.]

but are those situations of forced CC or voluntary CC. If the latter, that could point more to a sincere desire for "change" or for self-punishment, rather than the effectiveness of the procedure.

[snapdragonfly]

Originally Posted by Ryda Wong, EBfCo.

but are those situations of forced CC or voluntary CC. If the latter, that could point more to a sincere desire for "change" or for self-punishment, rather than the effectiveness of the procedure.

That's a good point.

True pedophiles are not, if I remember correctly, commiting rapes against children for power in the same way of a rapist who will target a victim of any age. Pedophiles have a distinct illness and sometimes they realize it, realize it is wrong, become self aware and stop rationalizing it to themselves. Pedophiles often really do not think they are doing anything wrong or sick, on the top layer of their mind anyway. Some of them are "friendly", they do not murder or torture their victims: they think they are showing love. (they might know better deep down - I don't know) They rationalize it and were often abused themselves - they can become aware of how wrong it is and what is going on with them - but, they still have the urges. I guess like some alcoholics who realize they are in fact a drunk, realize they do in fact have an illness, decide they don't want that lifestyle anymore, but still feel the urge sometimes. Of course there can be someone who is both a pedophile and a regular opportunistic rapist of any victim they can get, but quite a few pedophiles pose no danger to anyone but young children.

In that case if the medication helps to control their libido, and if their libido just cannot be channeled into healthy expressions that society finds acceptable, then it makes sense that someone who is motivated to be clean and legal and who does not have any other issues other than just the pedophelia, (such as violence) would find these medications helpful.

A pedophile who is still in denial but has his libido lowered - now that, I think we need to study what happens there. (or if there are studies I'm not aware of them.) I would assume it would lessen the instances of molestation and sexual assault somewhat but not as successfully as a self aware and motivated pedophile, and it might cause other problems to surface. I would worry that it might increase anger and therefore violence.

For someone who has other illnesses in addition to the pedophelia - such as a sociopath who enjoys violence and hurting other people - I think the libido suppressor would fail, as there are lots of twisted sick things they could do to someone that does not involve sex.