HB 57 CHEMICAL CASTRATION FOR SEX OFFENDERS

Rep Stefanie Lord

Actions: HPREF [2] not prntd-HRC

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 House Bill 57 (HB 57) relates to criminal sentencing and requires chemical castration treatment as a condition of parole for sex offenders. Refusal to undergo chemical castration treatment is a parole violation. 

 House Bill 57 (HB 57) amends current law and enacts a new section of the Probation and Parole Act by requiring that a convicted sex offender undergo chemical castration treatment as a condition of parole. “Chemical castration treatment” is the use of hormonal drugs to reduce sexual violence recidivism.  

A judge must inform the sex offender about the effect of the treatment and any possible side effects, and the offender is required to sign a written acknowledgement of receipt of this information.  Treatment must begin at least one month prior to the offender's release from prison.  The Corrections Department must administer the treatment if the person is incarcerated during their parole term; if the person is not in prison during parole, the person’s parole officer must advise the person where to receive the treatment. The person must authorize the Corrections Department to share with the Parole Board medical records relating to their treatment.  A person must continue receiving such treatment until the Parole Board determines that it is no longer necessary. 

HB 57 requires the person receiving such treatment to pay for all of its costs. However, a person may not be denied parole solely because they are unable to afford the treatment. 

Refusal to undergo such treatment is considered a parole violation and the person must be immediately remanded to prison for the remainder of the sentence from which they were paroled.