OKLAHOMA (KFSM) – An Oklahoma state lawmaker from Spiro has proposed a bill to chemically castrate certain sex offenders as a condition of being released from prison.
State Sen. Mark Allen, R-Spiro, introduced Senate Bill 671, which has been referred to the judiciary committee as of last week. The bill states those convicted of a “sexually violent offense” may be required to undergo metroxyprogesterone acetate treatment as a condition of release.
"The inmate has to go through counseling before going through the process," Allen said. "I think they've had about a 90% success rate. If somebody wants an early release from prison, they can go through the process."
The proposed law defines a “sexually violent offense” as rape, rape by instrumentation, lewd, indecent proposals or acts against children, solicitation of a minor, procuring a minor for pornography or forcible sodomy.
According to the bill, the treatment would be voluntary after a first conviction, but it would be required for repeat offenders.
Brady Henderson, a legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union, thinks legislators should think twice about passing Allen's bill.
"This is effectively a mind-altering drug," he said. "And we are using it to change how people think about the world around them. That's a line that criminal justice should never cross."
According to Allen, chemical castration could be an option for offenders who want to seek early release from prison.
The bill would also allow individual courts to administer chemicals other than metroxyprogesterone acetate or skip the requirement altogether if they deem the treatment would be ineffective with certain offenders.
The proposed law also would not apply to offenders who voluntarily undergo a permanent surgical alternative approved by the court.
If the bill is approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Senate and signed into law by the governor, it could go into effect by Nov. 1.
Both Florida and California require mandatory chemical castration injections for repeat offenders.