France launches chemical castration project for rapists
France has launched a pilot plan in which rapists and paedophiles will be offered chemical treatment to inhibit their sex drive.
The plan, reports The Independent, aims to reduce the population of French prisons where 8 200 men - or 22% of male inmates - are convicted sex offenders. Of those, three out of four have been jailed for crimes of paedophilia. Justice Minister Dominique Perben said a two-year trial would be launched in January under which 48 repeat offenders will be offered counselling and treatment using two drugs that inhibit the development of male sex hormones. Full report in The Independent