(FixThisNation.com) – Louisiana’s convicted child molesters could be ordered to undergo surgical castration — in addition to their time behind bars — after the state’s lawmakers approved a new law.
The bill provides judges the option to sentence those convicted of aggravated sex crimes, including incest, rape, and molestation of a child younger than 13, to surgical castration.
For the last 20 years, Louisiana judges have been capable of ordering those convicted of similar crimes to chemical castration, though the punishment is rarely issued.
Medication blocking testosterone production to decrease the individual’s sex drive is used in chemical castration. However, surgical castration is far more invasive.
Monday’s bill received overwhelming approval from the GOP-led House and Senate. Most of the votes against the bill came from Democrats despite the bill being sponsored by state Senator Regina Barrow, a Democratic lawmaker.
Louisiana currently has over 2,000 people imprisoned for committing sex crimes against children younger than 13.
Should the bill become a law, it won’t apply to those already convicted of these types of crimes, but only to those who are convicted of crimes occurring after August 1.
Barrow expressed her hopes that the bill would deter people from committing such offenses against children.
Earlier in the year, the Democratic state Senator highlighted the necessity of the bill as it related to “babies who are being violated by somebody,” describing the actions as “inexcusable.”
However, Barrow noted that judges wouldn’t be required to order the punishment. Instead, it would be on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of judges, similar to the chemical castration law.
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