San Gabriel Valley : Bill Introduced to Castrate Repeat Child Molesters

Assemblyman Bill Hoge introduced a bill Thursday that would allow the state to chemically castrate child molesters after a third offense.

The bill requires a repeat sex offender to begin chemical castration one week before any release from prison and would be an ongoing procedure that would require regular visits to parole offices for further doses.

The repeat offenders would also be able to choose the option of surgical castration at state expense.

“These sick individuals have ruined the lives of too many young people and castration will significantly reduce the chance of them doing it again,” Hoge said. “Those who think castration is cruel only need to talk to molestation victims and their families to realize the need for this measure.”

Hoge authored the bill at the behest of the Pasadena-based Women’s Coalition, a conservative women’s group led by activist Susan Carpenter McMillan.

“This will be the first time in the history of California that a castration bill will be voted on by the entire Assembly,” said Carpenter McMillan, coalition president.