A bill before the Alabama House of Representatives would require male sex offenders, who are convicted of sexual crimes against victims under the age of 12, to undergo surgical castration. From the Tuscaloosa News:
The bill would require castration for male sex offenders older than 21 convicted of a sex crime against a victim younger than 12.
Rep. Steve Hurst, D-Munford, has pushed legislation authorizing castration for two years.
“We need a stronger deterrent than what we have now,” said Hurst, who introduced the bill Tuesday. “I’d like for Alabama to take the lead and say that enough is enough.”
Hurst said he has been told by some legislators that the bill would likely die because such a law could be appealed in federal court....
If passed as it is now written, the proposed law would make Alabama the 10th state to authorize castration for sex offenders and the only state that would require surgical castration. The other states call for chemical castration....
Alabama would join Texas as the only state that authorizes surgical castration only, in which testicles, which produce most of the body’s testosterone, are surgically removed....
Other proposed bills affecting sex offenders have been introduced in the legislative session. A House bill would add colleges and universities to the areas in which sex offenders cannot live within 2,000 feet. A proposed Senate bill would prevent sex offenders from living in the county where the offense occurred.
The mandatory castration requirement is insane, but I'm more interested in the last paragraph of the article. What is the rationale from preventing sex offenders from living near colleges and universities? Those are locations where adults, not children, gather. Why not require offenders not to live within 2,000 feet of all people? It also seems counterproductive for those offenders who would seek to go to college and better themselves (which is important in decreasing recidivism). Further, treatment facilities are often located in university facilities. I'm curious if any of these Alabama proposals willl actually become law.
H/T: Sentecing Law & Policy.
If they add a requirement that the same procedure be performed on politicians, prosecutors and police officers convicted of any crime it might be worth trying.
Posted by: A Voice of Sanity | February 11, 2009 at 02:50 AM