What should be done with sex offenders and pedophiles? I believe they should be castrated. Do you agree?

Answer 1

Castrated and branded. Someone should tattoo their foreheads with the words 'I AM A PEDOPHILE', then everybody would know to stay away!

Answer 2

The problem is there are people that are convicted of crimes that aren't guilty. If there was a way you could PROVE that they did the crime like had it on tape or they are a repeat offender I think they should be castrated. But our legal system often fails us because there are guilty people walking the streets and innocent people in jail for the remainder of their lives.

Additionally, where would you draw the line to define the ones that got this treatment? I mean, technically if a 15 yr old and 17 yr old are dating and have been for 2 or 3 years, and the 17yr old gets their bday a day before the 15 yr old, if on that day the older touched the younger, they are a felon if convicted.

How about you got to a 18 and up club and you are 21 and up club and a 17yr old sneaks in. You kiss her or even dance with her the wrong way, 15 years in prison. She told you she was 21, what do you do?

Bottom line, it can be a bad deal totally. How about the football/basketball/soccer coach that didn't play a kid enough and that got the kid so upset that he said he was touched. In most states, if that guy is found not guilty even, he will never coach another kid in his life at anything. If you are found guilty you can't ever work at a school (what if you were a teacher?), you lose years off your life, and have to register as a sex offender for ever. People picket your property line, and you didn't do anything. Only if there was irreputable evidence should penalties be more strict than they are today. It's tough but I think this is where either technology or our legal system sells us short.

Answer 3

From what I understand, castration doesn't deal with the underlying urge and pedophiles will use something else or hurt their victims even more due to their frustration. To prevent pedophiles from doing what they do, the punishment must fit the crime. Unfortunately they'd just get off on that. All I can suggest is mandatory sentence guidelines that should include no special protection in prisons. The so called experts say pedophilia is not about sex but rather it is about control and power over the victim. Sentences that include making sure the offenders must remain in the general population in a prison will fit the crime. They will be just like their victims, powerless and 99% will never get the opportunity to re-offend because they will never make it out of prison alive. Sounds drastic but if you do the crime, you would know what's in store for you. Talk about a deterent.

Answer 4

I'd assume that you would include in that anyone who was convicted of statutory rape (sex with a minor), right?

What about the 20-year old who slept with a 15-year old who he honestly believed was 19, after she showed him (fake) ID that said she was 19. That's still statutory rape, because it's a strict liability crime. So, in addition to prison for doing something he didn't realize was wrong, you want to permanently maim him.

Actual forced rape is about power and control, not sex. Castrating an offender won't stop them from desiring to control other people; and many the offenders will just use objects rather than body parts, which defeats the entire purpose of your proposed punishment, while eliminating a potential source of DNA to convict them for future offenses.

As far as pedophiles, those who truly abuse young children won't be stopped or deterred just because of castration. If anything, it would make them angrier and again eliminate one potential source of DNA to convict them in the future.

Speaking of which, what about the people who get convicted by mistake and are actually innocent. It happens, more often than the government wants to admit. If they are in prison, then they have only (only?) lost years of their life. If you've permanently mutilated them, how do you say sorry we made a mistake?

Modern society has outgrown the primitive need of an eye for an eye. Chemical castration is just as effective as a hatchet job, and doesn't permanently harming someone who later turns out to be innocent.

Answer 5

You loaned your truck to someone to move and subsequently they were stopped. Within their possessions in your truck is child porn. Because it is your truck, you are charged. Then, someone wants to come along and cut your penis off? Give me a break. The laws need to be changed to reflect those who actually committed a crime. Right now, there is little differentiation between those who rape and molest children and those who are caught with a picture of a girl who a policeman determines is underage (though she looks 18 in the pose). Do you really think someone who raped a child and an 18 year old who had sex with your 14 year old promiscuous daughter who goes around lying about her age are in the same category? Well, our justice system does and therein lies the problem in labeling someone a sex offender. I, for one, don't want to be guilty of labeling anyone in a way that will ruin their life if they don't deserve it. I am a teacher and I am ever so mindful of any interaction I have with students as one day they love you and the next day they hate you. I've even heard kids snickering about "getting teachers in trouble by saying they touched me." Granted, there are many many cases where that does happen, but I saw a friend of mine's reputation almost ruined because of false allegations such as those. The 14 year old girl later recanted, but the damage to him had been done with all the gossip. Those of you who are so intolerant and incapable of seeing the difference will wind up in a situation someday where you find yourself teetering in some gray area such as that. I can't imagine anything worse than being labeled something so horrible when you know you didn't do it.

Answer 6

That's a tough question....

I don't believe testosterone has anything to do with the crime, and therefor castration would not stop the behavior... if the surgery would not stop the behavior, it would simply be cruel and unusual... Clearly if the threat of prison or worse doesn't stop these people, I can't see the threat of castration being a deterrent either.

But if we tattooed peoples crimes on their foreheads ("Sex Offender" or "Pedophile" or "Indicted Criminal" or "DUI" or "AWOL" or "Crack-head", or "War Criminal"), there would be no Republicans able to run....

Wow, what a great idea....

Answer 7

Castration would not prevent a sexual offender from offending again.They might not be able to pentrate but some pedophiles don't like to penetrate their victims.Some get off on fondling,inserting objects or torturous rituals.

Answer 8

Chemical castration is a relatively simple, quick and long-term solution. Non-invasive, easy to administer. However, Jennifer 123 is right, the problem is not simply physically rooted, it is very much psychological, and a psychological solution is needed.

Lobotomy anyone?

Answer 9

Castration (removing balls) doesn't necessarily keep them from reoffending. If we are without a doubt they are guilty and they keep on doing it I think we should brand them across the forehead : "Pedophile" "Rapist". That way, everyone would know to stay away from them

Answer 10

Agreed!