A bill, approved by both chambers of the Louisiana Legislature on Monday, June 3, would give a judge the option to impose surgical castration for someone convicted of an aggravated sex crime against a child younger than 13. The legislation would also send the convict to prison or confinement in an institution.
The sex crimes include rape, incest and molestation.
The Republican-led chambers overwhelmingly voted in favor of the bill. Most of the “no” votes came from the Democrats, however, the bill was authored by Sen. Regina Ashford Barrow, D-La.
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“Some of the things I have learned, some of the things I have experienced, some of the things I have seen which I wish I had never seen — especially as it relates to children — has made me very passionate about this issue,” Barrow said in May. “And at the same time, I want to be fair. I want to make sure that people are not wrongly convicted. I want to make sure that individuals are not put on the line who did not commit a crime, but at the same time, I want to make sure that our kids are safe. And I’m going to tell you, I don’t feel like our kids are safe. Many of our children are in situations that are very harmful and very bad, and sometimes, they don’t have a place to go.”
Surgical castration is the physical removal of the testicles in males or ovaries in women to stop the production of sex hormones. Chemical castration, which was already allowed in Louisiana, accomplishes the same using medication rather than an invasive procedure.
Several states — including Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Texas — already allow certain sex offenders to be chemically castrated.
Barrow has said she hopes her bill will be a deterrent for individuals looking to commit sex crimes against children.
The bill now heads to Republican Gov. Jeff Landry’s desk, where he will decide whether to sign it into law or veto it.
