some countries are hesitant toimplement such a permanent procedure because of its harsh and irreversible nature. Chemicalcastration, which is not permanent, is the latest measure implemented to fight the problem ofrecidivism among sex offenders. It involves a weekly injection of hormone suppressers thatinhibit testosterone production. Depo-Provera is the newest of these inhibitors. However, due toits experiment status the Michigan and Montana Supreme Courts have already held the use of thedrug unconstitutional as a condition of probation. Such legal action and other actions arguingagainst chemical castration on constitutional grounds has some activist groups upset. TheWomen’s Coalition in Pasadena stated, “I don’t care about the rights of serial child molesters. Tome, they’ve lost their rights once they rape, molest, and violate small children. This, by the way,is not punishment. [Chemical castration] is a help for their problem. ...It does not sterilize them. It merely lowers their testosterone level.”(Carpenter 98)Florida’s own chemical castration policy has come under fire. At the heart of the conflictis the bodily integrity and the right to refuse medical treatment encompassed by Florida’s right toprivacy. The Florida castration law provides no room for the consent of the defendant and is inmany cases mandatory. It is the court-appointed medical officer who decides who areinappropriate candidates, which may or may not include those withholding consent. Also, the lawlacks a provision providing counseling rendering the legislation ineffective in achieving the goal ofthe state, protecting the public from repeat sex offenders(Keene 97).The American judicial system is certainly not in an easy position when attempting toreduce the recidivism rate of the particularly habitual sex offender criminal class. Because theyhave rates drastically higher than any other violent criminal class ...
