Alabama just passed a bill that would require certain child sex offenders to undergo chemical castration before being released from prison.
The bill, known as House Bill 379, targets child sex offenders whose offenses involve anyone under the age of 13, Fox News reports. The bill is now on its way to the governor’s desk for a signature.
“They have marked this child for life and the punishment should fit the crime,” Representative Steve Hurst told CBS 42.
Offenders would also be required to pay for the procedure, according to the bill. Anyone who refuses to undergo the castration would be violating their parole, the bill reads.
Unlike surgical castration — which involves the severing of one’s genitals — chemical castration uses drugs to suppress sexual urges.
Hurst, who introduced the bill, said his aim is to reduce the number of sex crimes committed against children by making potential offenders think twice before they act.
“If we do something of this nature it would deter something like this happening again in Alabama and maybe reduce the numbers,” Hurst said. “I had people call me in the past when I introduced it and said, ‘Don’t you think this is inhumane?’” Hurst said of the bill. “I asked them what’s more inhumane than when you take a little infant child, and you sexually molest that infant child when the child cannot defend themselves or get away, and they have to go through all the things they have to go through. If you want to talk about inhumane — that’s inhumane.”
It wasn’t immediately clear if Alabama Governor Kay Ivey will for sure sign the bill.
Several other states already passed chemical castration bills, but it is not known how often the procedure is performed.
What are your thoughts on this one, Roommates? Let us know!
TSR STAFF: Christina C! @cdelafresh
