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California child molesters could face chemical castration
August 29, 1996
Web posted at: 5:45 a.m. EDT
SACRAMENTO, California (CNN) -- Child molesters could face "chemical castration" under a unique and controversial California bill aimed at stifling the sex drives of convicted pedophiles.
The bill -- the first of its kind in the nation -- would allow judges to order first-time child molesters to take a hormone-suppressing drug upon their parole from prison.
Repeat offenders would be required to either take the drug, Depo Provera, or undergo physical castration. Both actions would block the production of the male hormone in the testes that generates sex drive.
Both houses of the California legislature have passed the bill, and it could go to Gov. Pete Wilson as early as next week.
"I am going to sign it," Wilson said. "I hope it will be effective."
The bill's sponsor, Assemblyman Bill Hoge, believes it could put an end to repeat offenses.
"The recidivism rate -- repeat criminal activity -- drops from 87 percent to 2 percent (with some sort of castration)," said Hoge. "That's pretty darn effective. That's what we want to do here."
Legal challenges expected
The legislation is not without opponents. Legal experts predict court challenges if the bill becomes law.
"There are problems regarding the right to privacy, the right to procreate, the right to exercise control over one's body," said Valerie Small Navarro, a lobbyist with the California branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Dr. Michael Meek and the California Psychiatric Association believe there's more to child molestation than male hormones.
"It's a bad law as written," Meek said. "The classic example would be someone who molests children because voices tell him to molest children. Well, they're doing it from a psychotic point of view because voices tell them. Progesterone is not going to help at all."
Depo Provera can be helpful, especially combined with other forms of treatment, said Dr. Fred Berlin of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, but it is not a cure-all for pedophilia.
"The notion we can give someone a shot, once a week, and walk away from them and feel comfortable, I think is a very naive point of view," Berlin said.
But Hoge contends chemical castration is the best solution so far.
"We're talking about people who create the most heinous crime in this country or in the world. That's what needs to be dealt with," Hoge said. "We need to be thinking about the victims, their families and any possible future victim."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- California Senate OKs castration of molesters - August 22, 1996
- Pedophile granted wish: castration - April 11, 1996
- Molester faces lock-and-key parole - April 8, 1996
- Texas official approves castration of molester - April 4, 1996
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