Neurochemicals

• What is it?

  • taking drugs to prevent sexual urges and stop sex hormone production
  • Cyprotate Acetate commonly used in Europe
  • can be a tablet or injection
• Which theory informs the policy?

  • Raine and Scerbo: Neurochemicals
• Application

  • Iowa, California and Florida offenders may be sentenced to chemical castration in serious sex offence cases
  • 2009: Poland legalised forcible chemical castration of child molesters
  • 2012: Estonia legalised forcible chemical castration of all sex offenders
  • 6 prisons in the UK offer voluntary treatment to sex offenders
• Arguments for

  • supports Raine and Scerbo's neurochemical theory
  • supports biological theories as it would have a physiological change to the offender
• Arguments Against

  • relies on the offender taking the medication
  • human rights articles mean that the treatment cannot be forced in the UK
• Does it Work?

  • voluntary chemical castration reduces offending by 60%
  • forcible chemical castration reduces offending by 95%