This is one of those takes that’s so controversial I’m afraid to post it, which is exactly why I have to.
I neither endorse nor disavow this, and no, I’m not in the picture.
This is one of those takes that’s so controversial I’m afraid to post it, which is exactly why I have to.
I neither endorse nor disavow this, and no, I’m not in the picture.
If there’s a way to reduce the amount of sexual violence people inflict on children than it should be at least explored. Focusing on ensuring past sex offenders don’t recommit the same crimes is not a bad thing at all.
A lot of it is because it is a cycle. Breaking that cycle will free us from this trauma
Anger management, drug counselling, alcoholics anonymous, psychotherapy, and much more exist for ‘normal’ offenders.
For SO’s it’s chemical castration.
We don’t do that foe the same reasons we don’t do the death penalty. Too many ways an innocent can be wrongly punished.
Canada absolutely does do this.
But.
Chemical castration is not permanent. It’s some drug/chemical that basically blocks a hormone or something. Supposed to reduce libido.
As far as I know it’s the only pharmaceutical that can be legally ordered to take as condition of sentencing etc.
All it does is suppress something. It doesn’t treat it.
It’s like putting mittens on someone who robbed a bank.
Spouse of a Canadian nurse who works in forensic psychiatry here! For pedophiles who are caught and charged in Canada chemical castration -is- one of the things that our legal system can order. It seems like you’re under the impression it isn’t already happening, when it is.
I will note that from what I’ve heard, pedophilia comes in two types of “flavours”: the people who are attracted to minors, and are generally direstressed by it and want it to stop, where chemical castration appeals to them as an option to reduce sex drive and thereby the impulses. Then there are those who aren’t necessarily sexually attracted to children, so much as the sense of power that comes from doing these things. I have no evidence, but suspect Epstein et al. to be people with these types of motivations. While the castration can help some of their impulses, there’s more to it that requires other interventions. They’re also typically not interested in reducing this drive because they don’t feel bad about it.
Anyway, gathering more info to better support the folks who don’t want to follow their urges, and stop them from harming anyone before it happens is super important. I think the power motivated are part of a larger problem within our society that isn’t going to be dismantled just through this study. But hopefully I’m wrong, and we’ll at least glean some strategies.
*edited to clarify a thought.