Russia starts chemical castration on pedophiles

[syaoranvee]

The Russian parliament has approved a law on pedophilia in a first reading. From now on people found guilty of sex crimes against children under the age of 14 will face chemical castration, while repeat offenders face a life sentence.
­According to the new law, the decision on a convict’s obligatory chemical castration will be made through a forensic psychiatrist's report requested by the court, which may ultimately turn to other medical measures, MP Dmitry Vyatkin explained to Itar-TASS.

“It would be unwise to limit the medical measures to just castration, as in some cases it may not help,” Vyatkin said.

At the same time, some of the convicts may ask for voluntary chemical castration, even if the victim was over 14. This may help them get parole if they are already serving a sentence, or a more lenient sentence if they are still being tried. However, in the latter case the final decision will be up to the court.

.....

­The procedure of chemical castration is carried out using the drug Depo-Provera, which contains synthetic progesterone.

The female hormone progesterone lowers the levels of its male counterpart – testosterone, the hormone responsible for sexual desire, effectively reducing the latter.

The scientific community has no agreement over the drug’s ability to inhibit a pedophile's desire to abuse a child, while its side effects include depression, fatigue, diabetes, and blood clots, which, of course, are not part of the sentence.

rt.com/news/pedophilia-russia-chemical-castration-059/

So, anyone think something similar should come to the States?

[VirtualStranger]

That... doesn't sound like a very well-thought-out idea. It sounds like it hasn't even been fully tested yet. What's wrong with just giving them jail time?

Besides, you don't need genitals to sexually abuse children.

Also, I really hope that by "pedophiles" they actually mean "child molesters." Believe it or not, there's a big difference between the two. Punishing the latter is fully justified, punishing the former is essentially thought-crime.

[RavynousHunter]

Yeah...chemically castrating a guy just for havin some loli hentai is kinda fucked up.

Still, more research need be done...

[MaybeNever]

This kind of treatment actually is used in the US for some sex-crime convicts, usually as a condition of parole to my understanding. It just isn't universal.

[ltfred]

Silly law.

Here's just one of the problems- what are they going to do with regular rapists? Are they going to castrate them, too- or is adult rape less serious than child rape?

[syaoranvee]

Also, I really hope that by "pedophiles" they actually mean "child molesters." Believe it or not, there's a big difference between the two. Punishing the latter is fully justified, punishing the former is essentially thought-crime.

Yeah...chemically castrating a guy just for havin some loli hentai is kinda fucked up.

From now on people found guilty of sex crimes against children under the age of 14 will face chemical castration, while repeat offenders face a life sentence.

That's the context of the crime.

[HarleyThomas1002]

Oct 9, 2011 3:43:55 GMT -5 VirtualStranger said:

That... doesn't sound like a very well-thought-out idea. It sounds like it hasn't even been fully tested yet. What's wrong with just giving them jail time?

Besides, you don't need genitals to sexually abuse children.

Also, I really hope that by "pedophiles" they actually mean "child molesters." Believe it or not, there's a big difference between the two. Punishing the latter is fully justified, punishing the former is essentially thought-crime.

Can you elaborate on that last bit? I (and possibly others) have been under the impression pedophile = child molester.

[Admiral Lithp]

Pedophelia is being attracted to children, molesting them is...well, you know.

[Mlle Antéchrist]

It's the difference between having an urge and acting on it.

[scotsgit]

I can wholly applaud the idea of giving out life sentences: For once someone is treating sex crimes seriously: All too often I watch the news and hear about a pederast or rapist who has committed a string of offences who then gets a derisory 4 or 5 years sentence. But chemical castration doesn't sound like the answer - if anything, it'll make them more violent as they seek an outlet for the same urges that got them in prison in the first place.

[syaoranvee]

Oct 9, 2011 4:04:09 GMT -5 ltfred said:

Silly law.

Here's just one of the problems- what are they going to do with regular rapists? Are they going to castrate them, too- or is adult rape less serious than child rape?

In the context of mind-fuckery? Yes. An adult can understand what rape is. A child (such as one under the age of 14 with context to this law) cannot. It can have serious effect on the development of a person.

[N. De Plume]

Not that I condone sex at such a young age, but does " people found guilty of sex crimes against children under the age of 14" include a couple of thirteen year olds that both willingly engaged in sexual activity?

[Dragon Zachski]

Oct 9, 2011 5:52:21 GMT -5 scotsgit said:

it'll make them more violent as they seek an outlet for the same urges that got them in prison in the first place.

I thought the whole point of chemical castration was to essentially remove those urges.

That being said, I'm assuming this is talking about child molesters and not the guys who fap to loli/shota.

This law would be a lot better if it applied to all rapists, IMO.

[Mlle Antéchrist]

Oct 9, 2011 7:59:03 GMT -5 N. De Plume said:

Not that I condone sex at such a young age, but does " people found guilty of sex crimes against children under the age of 14" include a couple of thirteen year olds that both willingly engaged in sexual activity?

I doubt it.

[erictheblue]

Oct 9, 2011 3:43:55 GMT -5 VirtualStranger said:

That... doesn't sound like a very well-thought-out idea. It sounds like it hasn't even been fully tested yet. What's wrong with just giving them jail time?

When they are released, there is nothing stopping them from reoffending. The idea of chemical castration is to stop the urges, thereby stopping the reoffense.

Oct 9, 2011 5:52:21 GMT -5 scotsgit said:

if anything, it'll make them more violent as they seek an outlet for the same urges that got them in prison in the first place.

The idea is that chemical castration lowers testosterone, thereby lowering sexual urges and violent tendencies.

The connection does make sense. I've been having problems with my testosterone levels for about a year, and my endocrinologist has been lowering the dose I take daily. My t levels were well above normal for a biological male. I didn't notice any anger issues, but there was a risk to my physical health. She cut the dose by 25%, but my t levels were still well above normal. So she cut my dose to 50% of normal, which is where I am now. I'm not as angry, but my sex drive has tanked. However, I'm not ansy and looking for an outlet; there is nothing that needs let out.

So no, reducing testosterone and sex drive will not automatically cause more violent desires.