A Critical Analysis of the Effects of Chemical Castration and Physical Castration on the Recidivism Rates of Sex Offenders

Introduction

This paper examines the effects of chemical castration and physical castration on the recidivism rates of sex offenders.
Using theory integration or the multifactor approach, the findings reveal there are several factors influencing sex offender recidivism. Both chemical castration and physical castration have the potential to reduce the recidivism rates of sex offenders by lowering testosterone levels, diminishing sexual urges, and making sexual urges more controllable if the sexual urges are motivated by increased testosterone levels. Based on theory integration, most sex offences …show more content…

Establishing the recidivism rates of sex offenders is a key concern for criminal justice researchers not only because of the "irrefutable harm that the offenses cause victims and the fear they generate in the community" (Recidivism of Sex Offenders, 2001) but because of a recidivism base rate's necessity in facilitating effective sex offender management. Labeling sex offenders into one single category might be an over generalization because of the variety of sex crimes offenders commit. When a base recidivism rate is created, the "characteristics of offenders most likely to recidivate can be isolated, serving to identify those with the highest likelihood of committing subsequent offenses" (Recidivism of Sex Offenders, 2001). This will aid in the identification of offenders who are most responsive and "appropriate for participation in treatment and specialized supervision and what components those interventions must include" (Recidivism of
Sex Offenders, 2001). Recidivism rates are largely dependent on the characteristics of the sex offender. According to research completed by
Scalora and Garbin (2003) "recidivism is significantly related to quality of treatment involvement, offender demographics, offense characteristics, and criminal history." One of the greatest predictors of future deviant sexual behavior is past deviant sexual behavior. The longer the