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| Chemical castration: Alabama enacts new paedophile law | Chemical castration: Alabama enacts new paedophile law |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Alabama has signed into law a bill that requires some convicted paedophiles to undergo chemical castration. | Alabama has signed into law a bill that requires some convicted paedophiles to undergo chemical castration. |
| Under the law, those found guilty of a sex offence against a minor under the age of 13 will have to start sex-drive-lowering medication a month before being released on parole. | Under the law, those found guilty of a sex offence against a minor under the age of 13 will have to start sex-drive-lowering medication a month before being released on parole. |
| A court will decide when it is no longer necessary. | A court will decide when it is no longer necessary. |
| There are now seven states, including Louisiana and Florida, with chemical castration laws. | There are now seven states, including Louisiana and Florida, with chemical castration laws. |
| The bill was signed into law by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Monday. "This is a step toward protecting children in Alabama," she said. | The bill was signed into law by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Monday. "This is a step toward protecting children in Alabama," she said. |
| Offenders will be required to pay for the medication. | Offenders will be required to pay for the medication. |
| The measure was proposed by Republican representative Steve Hurst. He said he had been affected by hearing an account from a foster care organisation of a small child being sexually assaulted. | |
| The bill has been criticised by the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama. Executive director Randall Marshall told AL.com: "It's not clear that this actually has any effect and whether it's even medically proven. | The bill has been criticised by the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama. Executive director Randall Marshall told AL.com: "It's not clear that this actually has any effect and whether it's even medically proven. |
| "When the state starts experimenting on people, I think it runs afoul of the Constitution." | "When the state starts experimenting on people, I think it runs afoul of the Constitution." |
| What is chemical castration? | What is chemical castration? |
| The treatment, usually administered in a tablet form or by injection, blocks testosterone production and affects a person's sex drive. | The treatment, usually administered in a tablet form or by injection, blocks testosterone production and affects a person's sex drive. |
| However it is usually reversed when treatment is discontinued. | However it is usually reversed when treatment is discontinued. |
| In 2009, a number of prisoners in the UK took part in a pilot scheme where they were chemically castrated. | In 2009, a number of prisoners in the UK took part in a pilot scheme where they were chemically castrated. |
| It was trialled with volunteer offenders with a "high level of sexual arousal or intense sexual fantasies or urges". | It was trialled with volunteer offenders with a "high level of sexual arousal or intense sexual fantasies or urges". |
| Criminal psychiatrist Don Grubin said that those trialled reported "marked changes in their lives". | Criminal psychiatrist Don Grubin said that those trialled reported "marked changes in their lives". |
| In 2016, Indonesia passed a law authorising chemical castration, minimum sentences and execution for convicted paedophiles. At the time, Prijo Sidipratomo from the Indonesian Doctors Association branded it "harmful" and "against human rights". | In 2016, Indonesia passed a law authorising chemical castration, minimum sentences and execution for convicted paedophiles. At the time, Prijo Sidipratomo from the Indonesian Doctors Association branded it "harmful" and "against human rights". |
| South Korea enacted a chemical castration law in July 2011. | South Korea enacted a chemical castration law in July 2011. |