opinion

Chemical castration is good solution

Sen. Brant McCreadie introduced the Chemical Castration for Sex Offenders Act in an effort to prevent recidivism, protect the community and address the island's high rate of reported sexual assaults. According to the Guam Police Department's Unified Crime Report, there were 106 reports of rape in 2013, or 64 reported rapes per 100,000 people, ranking Guam third highest in the nation.

Keep in mind that these numbers do not reflect the instances of rape that are not reported.

We may not be able to prevent all crime from occurring, but we can seek solutions to protect ourselves, families and the most vulnerable in our community — victims of heinous sex crimes like rape and incest, which occur too often in Guam.

This measure seeks a solution by establishing a program to reduce the testosterone levels in sex offenders. Some make the argument that chemical castration will not be an effective treatment, as reducing testosterone levels diminishes sexual arousal and sexual offenses such as rape are committed to experience feelings of power and control and not for the sexual act itself.

However, testosterone hormone levels are also correlated to aggression levels. By reducing testosterone, a factor believed by some to be the main motivator of sexual crimes, aggression is also reduced.

Some people have also made the argument that chemical castration may be in violation of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, but I have to disagree. The chemical castration program proposed by the act is a treatment, not a punishment. Chemical castration does not cause pain or suffering of any type and it is a treatment method used to control sexual urges.

Another argument made against chemical castration is that there may be side effects as a result of the hormone treatment. However, the bill addresses this issue by requiring the Department of Corrections to refer sexual offenders to a competent physician for a medical evaluation to determine their suitability for hormone treatment and inform them of the side effects. The bill allows for medical professionals to determine one's eligibility by requiring a medical evaluation.

As a registered voter, I believe that the main concern of lawmakers and government leaders should be the safety and security of the victims, which should be central in the discussion of this bill. Statistics and opinions will be exchanged. I believe that one person's freedom ends where another person's freedom begins and that the safety and security of our community should take precedence over the rights of convicted criminals.

Some may say that this may be an extreme position and this is a ruthless measure, but it is a course of action that can be done to solve this growing problem. McCreadie has taken action by introducing this measure, and I hope to see it passed by the Legislature and signed into law.

We cannot afford to wait any longer and put more victims at risk of being sexually assaulted.

Wayne Quichocho is a resident of Mangilao.