UK Mulls Chemical Castration to Reduce Prison Overcrowding

May 26, 2025 by No Comments

A British government minister has expressed openness to the idea of mandatory chemical castration for male sex offenders.

The UK government is considering a report proposing measures to reduce the prison population by 10,000 inmates to address overcrowding.

The report suggests that chemical suppressants and other medications can reduce problematic sexual arousal and preoccupation in individuals who have committed sexual offenses, under specific conditions.

A pilot program involving chemical castration has been underway in prisons in southwest England since 2002. Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood announced to parliament that the program will expand to 20 additional prisons in two other regions of England.

The treatment involves two drugs: one to limit sexual thoughts and another to reduce testosterone and problematic sexual arousal. Inmates will also receive ongoing counseling for psychological issues like the desire for sexual power and control. A study indicated that reoffending rates were up to 60% lower for treated prisoners.

Minister Mahmood stated that chemical suppressants and psychological interventions could significantly benefit offenders for whom offending relates to power.

Initially, chemical castration would be voluntary. Medical ethicists have raised concerns about forcing doctors to treat unwilling inmates, citing Britain’s tradition of informed medical consent.

Sex offenders constitute a significant portion of England’s prison population, with over 20% incarcerated on sex offense charges at the end of March. The report advises that chemical castration should not be used as a risk management tool or standalone rehabilitation and is only suitable for a limited number of sex offenders.

Chemical castration is used in other European prisons to treat sex offenders. Sweden conducts limited clinical trials on volunteers in a Stockholm prison, while Germany and Denmark use it more widely, though still voluntarily. In Poland, courts can mandate chemical castration for certain sex offenders.

The report, authored by a former Conservative government minister, includes four dozen recommendations to alleviate prison overcrowding.

These recommendations include reducing jail sentences under 12 months in favor of community service or fines; developing early release policies for good behavior; and tagging offenders who committed crimes of abuse against women and girls.

The Conservative Party criticized the report, arguing that scrapping shorter sentences effectively decriminalizes crimes like burglary, theft, and assault.

Justice spokesman Robert Jenrick stated that this is a “gift to criminals” who will offend with impunity.

The Howard League for Penal Reform welcomed the report.

Chief Executive Andrea Coomber stated that the government is taking an important step but cautioned that half-measures will not solve the prison crisis.

Senior police officers cautioned that reduced prison populations require increased resources to manage the risk posed by offenders outside of jail.

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