Convicted Child Sex Offenders Will Be 'Chemically Castrated' Under Newly Signed Alabama Law

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UPDATE:Governor Kay Ivey has approved a bill in Alabama requiring that certain child sex offenders undergo chemical castration as a condition for parole. The offenders in question will be those convicted of abusing children under the age of 13.

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Alabama state lawmakers have passed a bill requiring that some child molesters be “chemically castrated” as a condition of being released from prison.

The bill, knownas HB379, is now with Gov. Kay Ivey to either be signed or vetoed.

Chemical castration, which is very different from surgical castration or removal of the testes, serves to block the production of certain hormones, including testosterone. The bill defines chemical castration as ”including, but not limited to, medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment or its chemical equivalent, that … reduces, inhibits, or blocks the production of testosterone, hormones, or other chemicals in a person’s body.”

Medroxyprogesterone injections are also used as a form of women’s birth control under the name Depo-Provera.

HB379also states that offenders would be required to pay for the injection, though they would not be denied parole if they’re unable to pay.

“[Pedophiles] have marked this child for life, and the punishment should fit the crime,” Hurst told WIAT. “…What’s more inhumane than when you take a little infant child, and you sexually molest that infant child when the child cannot defend themselves or get away, and they have to go through all the things they have to go through?”

Hurst attempted to pass this legislation in 2016, but this is the first time the bill has passed both the state House and Senate.

PEOPLE was not immediately able to reach Hurst for comment.

Though the Alabama bill is seeing more support now, it is likely to be challenged under the 8th Amendment, according to attorney Raymond Johnson who told WIAT, “They’re going to claim that it is cruel and unusual punishment for someone who has served their time and for the rest of their life has to be castrated,” he told the news station.

A handful of other states including Florida, Louisiana, California, Georgia and more have similar measures in place. However, the ACLU haspreviously spoken outagainst chemical castration for prisoners on the grounds of it being considered cruel and unusual.

source: people.com