02/22/2012
Europe's top human rights watchdog, the Council of Europe, has urged Germany to end the practice of surgically castrating sex offenders.
The council's anti-torture committee said such voluntary treatment, albeit rare in Germany, was "degrading".
In Germany no more than five sex offenders a year have been opting for castration, hoping it will lower their sex drives and reduce their jail term.
The committee's recommendations are not binding but have great influence.
The committee's official title is the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).
"Surgical castration is a mutilating, irreversible intervention and cannot be considered as a medical necessity in the context of the treatment of sexual offenders", the CPT report said. It was based on an investigation in Germany carried out in November-December 2010.
The BBC's Stephen Evans in Berlin says the German authorities argue that castration is not a punishment but a treatment which enables, as a government statement put it, "suffering tied to an abnormal sex drive… to be cured, or at least alleviated".
Research for the report revealed that of the 104 people operated on between 1970 and 1980, only 3% reoffended, compared with nearly half of those who refused castration or were denied it by the authorities.
But the CPT objected to the practice, saying:
- The physical effects are irreversible and may have serious physical and mental consequences;
- Surgical castration does not conform to recognized international standards and is not mentioned in guidelines drawn up by the International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders (IATSO)
- There is no guarantee of a lasting reduction in the sex offender's testosterone level
- It is "questionable" whether consent to surgical castration "will always be truly free and informed".
In February 2009 the Council of Europe made a similar complaint about the use of surgical castration in the Czech Republic.
Despite the criticism, the Czech Republic still offers prisoners the option of surgical castration.
The CPT says very few European countries still offer the procedure to sex offenders.
So I guess the mentality here is.........Cut off the part of the body that they feel caused them to commit thier crime? If so, why don't they remove thier eyes, or cut off thier ears? (Can't see or hear thier victim) Or, maybe reduce thier mental capacity by giving them a radical lobotomy ( so they won't even know what sexual urges are). NO THANKS, I'll keep mine, thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis type of Fox News style reporting is somewhat disappointing. Just reading past the inflammatory headline, the linked article has the words 'voluntary' and 'opting for' in the first two paragrahps. Furthermore, reading the actual report, it would appear that the application approval process is rather stringent and consists of review by an expert commission comprised of at least one medical doctor and one psychiatrist as well as a judge, the applicant can withdraw at any time and is not held to action after approval, approval is only good for one year, cannnot be bartered for early release, counseling is provided to applicant as well as the spouse, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteSo, in summary, you must really WANT this operation and you can change your mind at any time (until the actual 'snip'). Anyone wanting to keep 'theirs' is very welcome to do so.
http://www.cpt.coe.int/documents/deu/2012-06-inf-eng.htm#_Toc299972305
The CPT is correct in stating that the entire concpet is barbaric and outdated, but taking things out of context is not helpful. Don't get me started on the death penalty in most US States - talk about invasive.
While on the subject I was searching for Germany's management of 'sex offenders' (from the public urinators to the child rapists). Looking for things like the decade long or life time registration requirement with annual, quarterly or monthly updates. The public Internet Registry including photo, home / work address and license plate. Any reference to residence, presence or holiday restrictions. And what do you know - none were to be found. Because these things do not exist.
What does exist is the provision that ANY criminal conviction - after a length of time (based on type / seriousness of offense (typ. 5-15 years)) of law-abiding conduct is expunged and will no longer be a factor.
What this amounts to is giving a person with a criminal conviction, who has served their punishment, a fresh start and second chance. As well as the option to APPLY for castration if they really really want it.
A he!! of a mentality indeed!