By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Attorney General Douglas Moylan is urging the Department of Corrections to implement a dormant law that authorizes chemical castration for sex offenders as condition for parole.
The law, enacted on Sept. 7, 2015, mandates the DOC to draft the rules for the Hormone or Anti-Androgen Pilot Treatment Program for Convicted Sex Offenders.
“Considering the over eight years since its passage by our legislature, and it being the will of our people, we request your expedited review and sending to me any suggested changes,” Moylan said in a letter to Frank Bordallo Jr., acting DOC director.
“Implementation of the program is pursuant to the administrative adjudication law,” he added.
The law requires that the pilot program's evaluation be completed "no later than three years" after its implementation.
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Moylan, however, noted that the program has yet to be implemented and no rules have been adopted.
Attached to the attorney general's letter to Bordallo was a draft, which Moylan said was developed by his office following a survey of various mainland state programs similar to Guam’s statutory requirements.
Besides Guam, there are currently eight states that mandate hormone or anti-androgen treatment for sex offenders. These include Florida, Iowa, Georgia, Louisiana, Montana, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin.
“My office stands ready to work with your department in order to further develop and enhance the draft so that we can provide our governor with a fully developed record for her consideration,” Moylan told Bordallo. “I am confident that our working cooperatively will result in a safer Guam and fulfill the intent of our legislature.”
Anti-androgen treatment reduces levels of male hormones called androgens. The program seeks to reduce the sex offender’s risk of repeating the crime after being released into the community.
The law requires DOC to screen sex offenders who are eligible for release within six months on parole or postprison supervision to determine their suitability for hormone or anti-androgen treatment.
The sex offender receiving the procedure will shoulder the treatment cost.
