Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 17 June 2019
Alabama orders 'chemical castration' of some child molesters

lyst with the ACLU of Ala- lester is male, but a fraction
bama, said the law harkens of sex offenders are wom-
back to a "dark time" in his- en. Berlin said the situation
tory. is more complicated for
"It presents serious issues, women because of hor-
involving involuntary medi- monal balance involved
cal treatment, informed in the menstrual cycle and
consent, privacy and cruel maintaining pregnancy,
and unusual punishment," but treatment with a drug
Nettles said. like Depo-Provera has
The bill's sponsor, Repub- been used to help some
lican Rep. Steve Hurst of women gain better sexual
Munford, scoffs at that kind self-control.
of talk. California was the first state
"How in the world can it to pass such a law in 1996.
be any more cruel and in- Ike Dodson, a spokesman
humane than to molest a with the California Depart-
child? I want someone to ment of Corrections and
answer that one for me, Rehabilitation, said it's is
but they can't," Hurst said. rarely used there. Two pa-
Hurst said he hopes the rolees are currently receiv-

In a Feb. 12, 2014 file photo, Rep. Steve Hurst, R-Munford, watches discussion on the house floor in medication will protect ing treatment. Dodson said
the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala. children by stopping abus- one of them is mandated
Associated Press ers from reoffending. to receive it under law, and
At least seven states have the other requested it vol-
By KIM CHANDLER The procedure uses medi- der. laws authorizing chemical untarily.
Associated Press cations that block testos- After Gov. Kay Ivey's office castration in some form. Prison officials in Montana
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — terone production in order announced Monday she But its effectiveness can and Louisiana told The As-
Some Alabama sex offend- to decrease sex drive. The had signed the bill, some vary. sociated Press last year
ers who abuse young chil- Alabama law says sex of- legal groups raised ques- The hormonal treatment that they're aware of only
dren will have to undergo fenders whose crimes in- tions. can be useful for a sub- one case in each state in
"chemical castration" while volved children between Randall Marshall, executive group of offenders whose the last decade in which
on parole, under a new ages 7 and 13 must receive director of the American crimes are driven by sex- a judge ordered the treat-
law, but the requirement the medication before be- Civil Liberties Union of Ala- ual attraction to children ment. Texas even allows
has prompted legal con- ing released from prison on bama, said there are con- and want to reduce those repeat sex offenders to
cerns and appears to be parole. Alabama doesn't stitutional concerns with urges, said Dr. Frederick opt for surgical castration.
rarely used in some states allow parole for sex crimes forced medication. Berlin, who treats patients Texas and Florida did not
that allow it. involving children 6 and un- Dillon Nettles, a policy ana- with sexual disorders at have numbers immediately
Johns Hopkins Hospital and available on use.
at an independent clinic. Georgia had a chemical
However, he has concerns castration statute but re-
about a blanket criminal pealed it. Oregon also had
justice approach without a pilot program chemical
evaluating the appropri- castration but it was re-
ateness in each case. pealed.
"Speaking now as a physi- The Alabama law says a
cian, I think it's absolutely in- judge shall order the treat-
appropriate to use a medi- ment as a condition of re-
cal treatment as a criminal lease and will require pa-
sanction," Berlin said. rolees to receive an initial
He said it's not effective for dose of medication before
people whose crimes were leaving prison, and to re-
driven by drugs, mental ill- ceive additional doses after
ness or other issues. leaving. A judge would de-
"These laws tend to go on cide when they could stop.
the books because people They would be billed for
understandably are fright- the medication, although
ened. They want to protect fees could be waived for
children which I hope every those who couldn't afford
reasonable person wants it. The law also says an Ala-
to do," Berlin said. bama Health Department
"At its worst, I think the mo- employee must administer
tivation, if we are just go- the medication after an in-
ing to say it crudely: 'We mate's release from prison.
are just going to castrate Lawmakers say it's constitu-
the bastard.' Or at its best tional because it only ap-
it's a misunderstanding, plies when an inmate seeks
and lack of understanding release on parole. Inmates
when it would and when it who opt to serve their en-
wouldn't be medically ap- tire sentence would not
propriate." have to take the medica-
The stereotypical child mo- tion. q