NCJ Number
116229
Date Published
Unknown
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study traces the practice of and debate surrounding voluntary castration and long-term probation as an alternative to incarceration for sex offenders in San Diego from 1938 through 1975.
Abstract
In 1938 Judge Lawrence Turrentine of the San Diego County Superior Court began offering the option of voluntary castration coupled with long terms of probation for sex offenders. The alternative was a long prison sentence. Although there were no strong endorsements of this option from the San Diego legal community, neither was there strong opposition. The judge's personal evaluation of the sentence's effectiveness was taken for granted. Even in the face of the issues raised by such noted experts as Kinsey and Bowman, the use of voluntary castration continued in San Diego through the 1950's and into the 1960's. In 1974, under the weight of medical and legal opinion, voluntary castration was halted in response to a California law that discouraged organic therapies. There are still members of the medical and legal communities, however, who believe that castration works in rehabilitating sex offenders who would otherwise languish in prison. Others, supported by a considerable body of scientific evidence, argue that legally, morally, and medically castration is unacceptable and unnecessary. 58 notes, 34-item bibliography.