OKLAHOMA CITY (KWTV/CBS) - State Sen. Mark Allen is pushing Senate Bill 671 to legalize chemical castration of violent sex offenders.
The procedure, already in effect in two other states, could be in Oklahoma before the end of the year.
The Oklahoma version of the bill would allow someone with a first conviction to voluntarily undergo the hormone treatment program as part of terms for early release.
After a second conviction an offender would be required to undergo treatment.
Allen said he has studied the process in other states.
"The inmate has to go through counseling before going through the process," Allen said. "I think they've had about a 90 percent success rate. If somebody wants an early release from prison they can go through the process."
Attorney David Slane has represented more than 500 sex offenders and believes chemical castration could work. He said it already has with some of his clients.
"I remember one in particular who told me he went to his doctor voluntarily," Slane said. "He used this hormone therapy and, as he said, 'It cured me. I no longer have the thoughts. I no longer have the sex drive.' For years afterwards he had never reoffended. So to me, that was proof in the pudding. There may be something here."
Both Florida and California require mandatory chemical castration injections for repeat sex offenders.
The Oklahoma bill has a long way to go, but if passed, it could go into effect in November.
"Offenders are in jail for a reason, and if there are any options for early release then this could be one of their options," Allen said.
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