practice of surgically castrating convicted sex offenders

[johndecka 0]

Rights group calls to ban Czech castration law Story Highlights

Council of Europe says Czechs should abolish it castration law for sex offenders

CoE says some choose castration fearing refusal means long jail sentences

Group alleges some choosing castration include non-violent and first offenders

Czech Republic defends procedure as voluntary and effective

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(CNN) -- The Czech Republic's practice of surgically castrating convicted sex offenders is "invasive, irreversible and mutilating" and should stop immediately, the Council of Europe's Anti-Torture Committee said in a report made public Thursday.

The central European country castrated at least 94 prisoners in the 10 years up to April 2008, when investigators from the Council of Europe, a human-rights forum, visited the Czech Republic.

The Council of Europe condemned the practice as "degrading."

The procedure is being performed even on first-time, non-violent offenders, such as exhibitionists, its investigation revealed.

Prisoners have to request castration under Czech law, but many fear they will be jailed for life if they do not, the investigation found.

"In practically all the cases, these patients indicated that their application was at least partially instigated by fear of long-term detention," the report said.

"Some patients claimed that the treating sexologist had explicitly told them that surgical castration was the only available option to them and that refusal would mean lifelong detention."

And it warned that some "significantly" mentally retarded people had been castrated.

"In at least five cases, legally incapacitated offenders were surgically castrated," the report said. "In all of these instances, the court-appointed guardian had signed the consent form; in two cases, the guardians were mayors."

The investigators found only two convicts who had spontaneously volunteered for castration, while others they interviewed said mental health staff specializing in sexuality had recommended it.

"The other patients interviewed indicated that the treating sexologist had suggested surgical castration, in several cases within a week of the patient's admission to hospital," the report said.

"Some of the sexologists interviewed by the delegation themselves affirmed that for certain patients there was no alternative treatment to surgical castration."

The Czech Republic defends the practice as voluntary, saying castration aims permanently to reduce testosterone levels in order to diminish the offender's sexual urges.

The process, officially called "therapeutic testicular pulpectomies ... are performed upon a written request of an adult man," the Czech government responded. It said the operation had to be approved by a committee of experts.

"Prior to the performance of such intervention, the patient must express his consent with its performance. Castration is considered with respect to men who cannot manage their sexual instincts and are sexually aggressive," the Czech government said, saying the Council of Europe had not proven its case sufficiently for the country to abandon castration.

It argues the procedure is effective in reducing repeat offenses.

But the Council of Europe questioned the statistics on repeat offenses and said even if they were correct, castration was not an appropriate way to reduce recidivism.

"The committee's delegation came across three cases in which sex offenders had committed serious sex-related crimes, including serial rape and attempted murder, after they had been surgically castrated," the human-rights group said.

"Surgical castration is no longer a generally accepted medical intervention in the treatment of sex-offenders," the report said.

It said candidates for castration often received information about the procedure which was too technical to understand -- or no information at all.

"Several patients who had undergone surgical castration told the delegation that they would never have applied for surgical castration had they been properly informed," the report warned.

It condemned the practice as "an irreversible intervention that always leads to infertility and, in the long run, a significantly increased risk of osteoporosis," also warning of possible depression and changes in appearance.

It said it was impossible to determine how many people had been castrated in keeping with a 1966 law.

Would There Be Less SEX offenders in USA if the Courst HAnds out Castration to the Sex Offenders/Rapists?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Would There Be Less SEX offenders in USA if the Courst HAnds out Castration to the Sex Offenders/Rapists?

No, but there would be a lot more castrated people around.

[jundp 191]

I agree with AJ. Sex offenses aren't about sex, they're about power.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I agree with AJ. Sex offenses aren't about sex, they're about power.

I agree. Rape is an act of violence against another person in sexual manner...they could use a broom handle or something else.

[johndecka 0]

I agree with AJ. Sex offenses aren't about sex, they're about power.

I agree. Rape is an act of violence against another person in sexual manner...they could use a broom handle or something else.

Well, then there should be law like Saudi Arabia , Cut off Both hands,so the person cant hold n use Broom handle n others

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I agree with AJ. Sex offenses aren't about sex, they're about power.

I agree. Rape is an act of violence against another person in sexual manner...they could use a broom handle or something else.

Well, then there should be law like Saudi Arabia , Cut off Both hands,so the person cant hold n use Broom handle n others

How about cutting off every body part, just to make sure?

[jundp 191]

I agree with AJ. Sex offenses aren't about sex, they're about power.

I agree. Rape is an act of violence against another person in sexual manner...they could use a broom handle or something else.

Well, then there should be law like Saudi Arabia , Cut off Both hands,so the person cant hold n use Broom handle n others

Since I've been away for a while, I'll just throw out some Gandhi "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

Uh, no. It just means 2 people have 1 eye each.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I agree with AJ. Sex offenses aren't about sex, they're about power.

I agree. Rape is an act of violence against another person in sexual manner...they could use a broom handle or something else.

Well, then there should be law like Saudi Arabia , Cut off Both hands,so the person cant hold n use Broom handle n others

How about cutting off every body part, just to make sure?

Then put 'em through a blender.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I agree with AJ. Sex offenses aren't about sex, they're about power.

I agree. Rape is an act of violence against another person in sexual manner...they could use a broom handle or something else.

Well, then there should be law like Saudi Arabia , Cut off Both hands,so the person cant hold n use Broom handle n others

How about cutting off every body part, just to make sure?

Then put 'em through a blender.

Just make sure you spare one of their eyes. It's what Gandhi would have done.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I agree with AJ. Sex offenses aren't about sex, they're about power.

I agree. Rape is an act of violence against another person in sexual manner...they could use a broom handle or something else.

Well, then there should be law like Saudi Arabia , Cut off Both hands,so the person cant hold n use Broom handle n others

How about cutting off every body part, just to make sure?

Then put 'em through a blender.

Just make sure you spare one of their eyes. It's what Gandhi would have done.

...and a cheek for my homeboy Haysuess.

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

so what's the problem again?

[Danno 1,228]

I agree with AJ. Sex offenses aren't about sex, they're about power.

I agree. Rape is an act of violence against another person in sexual manner...they could use a broom handle or something else.

This silly idea has really gotten legs as many people know actually believe it.

I have known people who have rapped... it's wasn't about power... it was about.. you guessed it, SEX! In one case the poor girl was passed out, ..not much of a "power trip" there.

Sure there are some percentage of guys who get off on "taking it" from a scared crying woman or girl but to blanket all rape with this one motive... is lazy.

Come to the real world: Guys have a strong drive for sex, some will risk anything or hurt anyone to get what they want.

[Marzy 1]

Cut their fingers and thumbs which is better than removing genitals. I prefer to kill them than castrating.

Edited February 6, 2009 by S*J

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I agree with AJ. Sex offenses aren't about sex, they're about power.

I agree. Rape is an act of violence against another person in sexual manner...they could use a broom handle or something else.

This silly idea has really gotten legs as many people know actually believe it.

I have known people who have rapped... it's wasn't about power... it was about.. you guessed it, SEX! In one case the poor girl was passed out, ..not much of a "power trip" there.

Sure there are some percentage of guys who get off on "taking it" from a scared crying woman or girl but to blanket all rape with this one motive... is lazy.

Come to the real world: Guys have a strong drive for sex, some will risk anything or hurt anyone to get what they want.

Danno, it's normal to have sexual desires, even strong ones as most people have them...but we don't all go out and rape someone to satisfy the need. So saying that it's their sexual desire that drives them to rape is like saying your sexual desire drives you to force your spouse to have sex with you.