Sex offense castration bill backed
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Some sex offenders would be forced to undergo “chemical castration” under legislation that cleared the Senate on Tuesday.
Offenders could choose to be physically castrated rather than submit to injections of medroxyprogesterone acetate, which suppresses a man’s sex drive by reducing testosterone levels.
The Senate voted 32 for, 3 against sending the bill to the House.
Senate Bill 144 by Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Meaux, would give judges the option of requiring the injections for even first-time offenders of sex-related crimes.
On a second offense, the injections would be mandatory.
Gautreaux amended the bill on the Senate floor to allow the court to hold an offender in contempt for trying to reverse the effects of the treatment.
He said he does not want an offender to take “estrogen” to counteract the chemical castration.
Sex offenders who fail to submit to the treatment — whether by not showing up for the injections or refusing them — would face up to five years in prison.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican and a Baton Rouge physician, asked Gautreaux who would pay for the treatments.
Cassidy said the therapy can cost between $5,000 and $20,000 a year.
He said there might be a concern about a sex offender getting $20,000 in free therapy.
Gautreaux noted that his legislation would require the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections to administer the treatment.
In other states, he said, the corrections department pays for the treatment.
“It could be us,” Gautreaux said, referring to state government. “Either way, society pays.”
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