Sep 11, 12:23 PM EDT

Rapist agrees to castration punishment for sexual battery

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) -- A confessed rapist has agreed to be castrated in a plea deal that could save him from a life prison sentence.

Bobby James Allen pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of armed sexual battery and various other charges involving attacks that happened in 1998 and 1999. Allen filed a motion requesting castration in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet agreed to sentence Allen to 25 years' prison on Sept. 20 if has the procedure in the next eight days. If Allen does not go through with the operation, he faces up to life in prison.

"You understand that this procedure is the removal of your testicles?" Overstreet asked Allen.

Allen said he wanted to be castrated.

"I have spoken with all the victims," prosecutor Larry Basford told Overstreet. "They agree that this sentence punishes him and would deter him and others from similar acts."

Allen would be classified as a dangerous sexual offender and must serve every day of his 25-year sentence, prosecutors said.

Interesting.

I think castration can be an effective tool in dealing with sexual offenders. It's not a cure-all and only addresses one part of their overall behavior, but still a tool worth using.
I'm glad he still gets a significant sentence behind bars to go along with it.

-Ray

Castration could accomplish much: First, as with the subject case, a defendant's agreement to it could be an effective plea bargaining tool resulting in shorter sentences. Second, it would doubtless stop a castrated pedophile from committing similar crimes upon his release. It's a win-win situation for society and the debased offenders.

Castration is no guarantee that it will stop a person from committing horrible crimes. However, there is a good chance of it.

Testosterone is the main motivator in male agression. While I don't know the stats, I'm sure that men who end up in prison average higher testosterone levels than the general population.

So I'm all for castration provided it is not mandatory but part of a deal for reduced sentences, and that it still involves significant jail time, and that the same supervision be given after prison as another prisoner.

-Ray

Exactly. As long as it is voluntarily submitted to as part of a plea bargain, I'm all for it. FYY ~ forced castration as a condition of sentencing has been repeatedly struck down by the courts as violative of 8th Amendment protections.

Understood. Forced castration would be cruel and unusual punishment in most peoples opinion.

However, I remember 20 years ago as a young man, the insanity of raging hormones, how many times I wished there were a pill or something I could take to "turn it off"! I often wonder how different my life would have turned out if I hadn't expended a significant portion of my life energy trying to release excess testosterone! If castration were something that was available and socially acceptable I might have considered it back then!!

I'm glad it wasn't, and I'm glad I didn't! Now that I'm older and things have slowed down some and the insanity is kept to a dull roar, things are rather tolerable, if not pleasant!

-Ray

I was always under the understanding if talking a true ped,,, it is not really phys,,it is mental and in their make up, also someone can be sexually abused in many differ ways, with objects as that poor young man that ended up jumping off the cruise ship?

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Granted, a true pedophile might very well suffer emotional/mental issues, but take away the physical ability to sexually abuse our children and they are safer.

No, thats not what she's saying. Whacking off a man's jewels doesn't take his ability to hurt children away. It only takes his source of testosterone away. For most men that pretty much ends sexuality for all practical purposes, but it doesn't stop them from doing sick things to other people.
It's also true that the release of sex is only one factor in men who do these things. They have a sick need to dominate and hurt others, and that sick need doesn't go away with castration.

Yes, it can be a good tool. No, it isn't a cure.

-Ray

Sorry, I still do not see how the kids would be safer usually they are raped with an object's,, it is not really about phys sex,,,also wont stop them from killing them either. That statement left me confused on what good it will really do?

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