In Great Britain, they are considering the possibility of introducing chemical castration to reduce the sex drive of criminals convicted of sexual violence. The initiative is aimed at reducing the risk of recidivism and easing the burden on the prison system, informs CNN.
Justice Minister Shabana Mahmoud said the procedure is planned to be implemented in 20 prisons in two regions of the country, and is currently being considered to make it mandatory.
“Of course, it is vital that this approach is used in conjunction with psychological procedures that target other causes of offending, such as the desire for power and control.”, – Mahmud explained.
An independent sentencing review was presented in Parliament, which found that chemical castration was not appropriate in all cases – in particular, it was not effective against criminals whose actions were motivated by a desire to dominate and control. At the same time, the minister referred to the results of research, according to which this procedure can reduce the level of repeated crimes by 60%.
Today, chemical castration is already used on a voluntary basis in Germany and Denmark. In Poland, it is mandatory for certain categories of criminals. This measure is part of a wider package of initiatives aimed at reforming the penitentiary system. Other proposals include waiving sentences of less than 12 months, except in certain cases such as domestic violence, deporting convicted foreigners if the sentence is less than three years, and increasing funding for the probation service.
