Criminological: Treatment For Offenders: Hormones Flashcards
Who is hormone treatment generally applied to?
Sexual related offenders:
To reduce the male sex hormone and recidivism.
How is testosterone lowering medication used?
It suppresses criminal urges (sex drive) biologically through anti-androgens to reduce sexual crimes.
What does testosterone lowering medication use?
Anti- androgens
Which drug is usually used in hormone treatment?
MPA
How does MPA work?
The female hormone breaks down the production of testosterone.
An injection is needed every 7-10 days.
What are the side effects of MPA?
- Depression
- Osteoporosis
Evaluate the hormone treatment using the D of DESSERT.
Different treatment:
Anger management uses behavioural techniques and challenges the behaviour that causes crime by teaching valuable life lessons.
Evaluate the hormone treatment using the first E in DESSERT.
Expense:
Available on the NHS
=accessible to all
But 41% don’t receive treatment after being recommended it due to lack of availability.
Evaluate the hormone treatment using the first S in DESSERT.
Supporting Evidence:
Federoff
MPA: 15% recidivism rate
No MPA: 68% recidivism
= hormone treatment is better than no treatment.
Evaluate the second S of DESSERT for hormone treatments.
Side effects:
MPA has side effects of depression, osteoporosis and breast enlargement.
This may make people less likely to undergo the treatment.
Evaluate the hormone treatment using the second E in DESSERT.
Ethics:
Form of social control
Rather than highlighting source of offenders behaviour, it simply deals with symptoms.
= Not in best interest of offender
Evaluate the hormone treatment using the R of DESSERT.
Reason:
Masks symptoms
Doesn’t tackle cause of the offence
= Risk of recidivism as soon as the treatment is over.
Evaluate the hormone treatment using the T of DESSERT.
Time:
Quick response time
MPA breaks down testosterone instantly
= quicker than behavioural treatment but not as long- term.
