Should forced sterilizations be used as a form of Punishment?

[Justiceright]

So in our class, we had a debate as for the ethicacy of forcible sterilizations of very serious violent criminals. Some of the arguments were that children born from convicted violent criminals tend to have a much higher risk of becomming a criminal when compared to the general public even when income and education was factored. And the point is if we'd just serialized all serious violent criminals as part of the condition for the possibility of parole, that could dramatically cut down violent crime.

Do you support the notion that ALL seriously violent crime (Rape, Child molestation, serious assault and battery, etc) should carry a mandatory life sentence, and that the possibility of parole will be added IF the criminal agrees to the sterilization?

IMO, if you violate the law, you give up your right to reproduce. I personally do not see the right of reproduction as a fundamental human right if you are a violent individual. Society has the obligation to protect the right of life and safety for everyone. You are not just effecting yourself, you are effecting another person: the person being born. But a counter point is that this would be a slippery slope to potential serious human rights violations...

What are your thoughts on this issue? I'm a bit torn...

[Katie N]

Only for sex offenders.

[Justiceright]

I'm pretty against violating bodily autonomy, especially for something as petty as revenge.

Well, revenge is only part of the reason. the second reason is to see if it has any effect on the crime rate.

[Vanyali]

I'm pretty against violating bodily autonomy, especially for something as petty as revenge.

This says it all.

That you would consider it is a pretty stark indicator of your mindset, and it's not good.

- - - Updated - - -

Well, revenge is only part of the reason. the second reason is to see if it has any effect on the crime rate.

know what actually has an effect on the crime rate?

not having your minimum wage workers live like shit so corporations don't have to pay them a living wage.

[Zantos]

What are your thoughts on this issue? I'm a bit torn...

My thoughts are that they need to provide some serious evidence to support their wild claims. I have never heard that kids brought up by criminals end up as criminals as well. Heck, it could even change them for the better to suddenly be responsible for the well being and safety of a child.

So no, it should not be used since its not going to solve anything. Kids from any background could end up as criminals. The goal is to treat and reform the current criminals. Sterilization won't help in that regard.

[obdigore]

OP, you don't sound torn, you sound like an angry, young believer in the old 'eye for an eye'.

And no, absolutely not.

[Sunseeker]

Possibly for serial sex rapists (as opposed to just sex offenders, because streakers and teens who have sex underage shouldn't be forcibly sterilized).

But for anyone else? No.

[Zantos]

Only for sex offenders.

That's a pretty dumb idea to do on a sex offender. Just gives them one less way of getting caught if they re-offend.

[Belize]

How dystopian...

[Khadgar]

If Rape carries the same sentence as Murder wouldn't that just give the Rapist more incentive to kill the victim so she can't help identify him?

[zephid]

Only for sex offenders.

Sterilization wouldn't help prevent sexual offenders from committing new crimes.

[Vanyali]

If Rape carries the same sentence as Murder wouldn't that just give the Rapist more incentive to kill the victim so she can't help identify him?

This is one of the reasons the death penalty doesn't work, yes.

[obdigore]

That's a pretty dumb idea to do on a sex offender. Just gives them one less way of getting caught if they re-offend.

I'm assuming that OP is assuming that all sex offenders are male, and by forced sterilization, I'm assuming he means castration. Just removing the ability for the sperm to reach the penis isn't going to reform any criminals.

OP, what you need to realize, is that criminals do not think they are going to be caught. No amount of 'harsh punishment' is going to change that mindset. So then we turn to how to prevent them from doing criminal activity again, if we let them out of prison.

Except in a very few cases, I don't believe that forced sterilization would prevent any recurrence of crime, and in those cases, clearly the people should not be released from the prison/mental facility in which they reside, as they are unable to be safely integrated into the public.

[Katie N]

know what actually has an effect on the crime rate?

not having your minimum wage workers live like shit so corporations don't have to pay them a living wage.

I don't think wage has much influence on if people commit some crimes or not. Our murder rate is similar to your country but what you can earn in some hours of work there many earn in a month here.

[Theodarzna]

No, permenantly mutilating their bodies could come back to bite us if it turns out they are innocent.

"Sorry we (Cut out your womb/castrated you)..... here have a fruit basket, we are super double plus sorry bout that."

[obdigore]

I don't think wage has much influence on if people commit some crimes or not. Our murder rate is similar to your country but what you can earn in some hours of work there many earn in a month here.

Then you are wrong. Socio-economic reasons are one of the two main drivers of crime.

[Spectral]

I'm sure it'd have a positive eugenic effect, at least when it comes to diminishing crime rate. I don't really see much of a downside, or even really that much of an ethical dilemma - if it's acceptable to take years of someone's freedom away, surely preventing them from having children is not much worse, comparably. We can safely assume violent criminals aren't great parents, on average.

Despite all that, I wouldn't much support such a measure in current society - it'd probably be fraught with extensive legal battles, punish innocent people too frequently, and we'd have to argue about it constantly.

[zephid]

I don't think wage has much influence on if people commit some crimes or not. Our murder rate is similar to your country but what you can earn in some hours of work there many earn in a month here.

That's not how it works. Yes, you earn less but you also pay less for everything.

[Zantos]

I'm assuming that OP is assuming that all sex offenders are male, and by forced sterilization, I'm assuming he means castration. Just removing the ability for the sperm to reach the penis isn't going to reform any criminals.

I only assumed preventing reproducing through sperm and what not. Either way, it still wouldn't help rectify the situation.

[Spectral]

No, permenantly mutilating their bodies could come back to bite us if it turns out they are innocent.

"Sorry we (Cut out your womb/castrated you)..... here have a fruit basket, we are super double plus sorry bout that."

Vasectomies are reversible.