Several members of the national party “Order and Justice” (“Tvarka ir teisingumas”) proposed adding mandatory chemical castration to the Criminal Code for individuals who have committed sex crimes, delfi.lt reported on 14 June.
If the initiative is approved and goes into effect, this method would be used for individuals currently imprisoned, as well as for offenders on probation. A long-term treatment to reduce potency would be used for offenders charged with molesting children. A short-term treatment would be used for those charged with rape.
In either case, chemical castration would be ordered by the court.
“Data shows that criminals who have undergone treatment were less likely to commit similar crimes again compared with those for whom treatment was not carried out. Drugs to reduce potency are especially effective for molesters. It should be noted that such drugs are not an alternative to imprisonment, but are an additional treatment for individuals already in prison, on probation or awaiting sentencing,” noted by Valentinas Mazuronis, Rimas Antanas Rucys and Petras Grazulis in the explanation to the change of the Criminal Code.
According to them, chemical castration “is successfully used in many countries as a means of enforcement for criminals who have committed sex crimes.” Politicians mentioned that among such countries are Canada, UK, Sweden, Denmark, and the majority of states in the US.
Translated by Julija Scerbina
Edited by V. Goel
