PILOT PROGRAM

U.K. to Roll Out Chemical Castration for Prison Inmates

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the plan Thursday.

The United Kingdom is expected to roll out voluntary chemical castration in some prisons to reduce the risk of repeat sexual offenses and alleviate some facilities from overcrowding. The process, which utilizes medication to suppress sex drive, will be used in 20 prisons across two regions, U.K. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced Thursday. “I am exploring whether mandating the approach is possible,” Mahmood said. “Of course, it is vital that this approach is taken alongside psychological interventions that target other causes of offending, like asserting power and control.” ABC News reports that the process will likely be useful for rapists who are “driven by power and control rather than sexual preoccupation.” The justice secretary added that research has shown a considerable effective rate for the procedure, with it leading to a 60% reduction in reoffending. Chemical castration has also been employed in Germany and Denmark on voluntary terms, and is mandatory in Poland for some offenders.