Louisiana Approves Castration For Sex Offenders

April 15, 2008 11:48 p.m. EST

Baton Rouge, LA (AHN) - The Louisiana Senate on Tuesday voted in favor of chemical or surgical castration as punishment for serious sex crimes.

Senators approved the measure with a 32-3 vote.

The bill allows judges to impose chemical castration on convicted first time sex offenders in cases which involve aggravated rape, simple rape and indecent behavior with a juvenile. Castration would be mandatory on repeat offenders.

Sen. Nick Gautreaux (D-Meaux) authored the measure.

Chemical castration requires the use of the drug medroxyprogesterone acetate, which diminishes the offender's sexual urges. The bill prohibits the offender from taking substances like estrogen which counteracts the castration drug's effects.

Convicted sex offenders could choose physical castration to avoid side effects from the drug or if he hopes to permanently curb his sexual urges.