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Chemical Castration Of Sex Offenders

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Introduction.
Historically, castration has been often used as a punishment to sex offenders. However, by late 19th Century, most of the castration sentences were disallowed upon appeal (Spalding, 1998). For this reason, legislative systems have made into law legislations that will revive the ancient castration method to condemn such men. However, this procedure has not escaped criticism from psychological, medical and psychiatric professionals. Some critics, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), believe that mandatory chemical castration of sex offenders due to court order is unconstitutional (Spalding, 1998). The opponents of castration also argue that side effects associated with chemical castration such as serious allergic reactions …show more content…
In the case People v. Clotfelter, the California Superior Court made a conclusion that chemical castration was a less severe alternative for punishment to sex offenders (Oswald, 2013). There are a number of significant side effects that are faced by the men and women under chemical castration procedure. Injections with Depo-Provera lead to side effects such as in males: abnormal sperm, impotence, loss of body hair, lowered ejaculatory volume, serious allergic reactions, fatigue, diabetes and shrinkage of the seminal and prostate vessels (Eady, 2006; Amlin, 2002; Tullio, 2009; and Oswald, 2013). In women, the injections increase the risk of irregular menstrual bleeding; increased risk of developing breast cancer; increased risk of osteoporosis; and increased risk of blood clots and stroke (Oswald, 2013). Chemical castration may generally cause clinical depression and severe mood instability (Douglas et. al, 2013). Administration of MPA leads to alteration of brain and body functions by reducing the exposure of the brain to testosterone hence deprive the sex offenders the desire to have sex and engage in sexual activity. Chemical castration has severe physical effects. By pumping large doses of the female hormones into a male system, individuals are subjected to severe physical effects which might bring pain, disability and long term fatal consequences. For example, long term treatment using MPA reduces bone mineral density hence offenders are likely to experience osteoporosis and multiple bone fractures (Stinneford,

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