Sweden to examine voluntary chemical castration for offenders

Sweden’s Tidö parties want an investigation into whether voluntary chemical castration could reduce reoffending among people convicted of sexual offences or child pornography offences, SVT reported.

The investigator will examine how children can be better protected from sexual crimes, including whether penalties should be increased and criminal classifications changed.

“It is one of our darkest and most serious social problems,” Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said at a press conference. “No child should have to be subjected to abuse, and when what must not happen nevertheless happens, society’s response must be forceful, and in our view more forceful than it is today.”

The investigator will also propose whether voluntary chemical castration should be made a condition of conditional release for people convicted of sexual offences or child pornography offences.

“We want the investigator to examine whether there is scientific support for such treatment reducing the risk of reoffending and, if so, in which situations it would be appropriate,” Strömmer said.