Treatments for Offenders: Hormone Treatment

Question 1

Who is testosterone lowering medication focused towards?

Answer 1

Reducing sexual drives through the reduction of the male sex hormone reduces recidivism in sexual offenders.

Question 2

How is testosterone lowering medication used?

Answer 2

Due to this theory saying that behaviour is biological suggests suppressing criminal urges (such as sexual drives) biologically through anti-androgens reduces crime (sexual offenders).

Question 3

What does testosterone lowering medication use?

Answer 3

Anti-androgens

Question 4

Why might this method be more ethical than other biological treatments.

Answer 4

It avoids the barbaric solution of castration and is less painful and permanent.

Question 5

Give 2 examples of TLM.

Answer 5

1) Cyproterone Acetate (CPA)

2) Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (MPA)

Question 6

Describe how CPA works to reduce criminal behaviour.

Answer 6

• Only available in Canada
• Reduces sex drive
• Side affects of liver dysfunction

Question 7

Describe how MPA works to reduce criminal behaviour.

Answer 7

• Female hormone breaks down production of testosterone in the pituitary gland
• Intramuscular injection of 300-400mg every 7-10 days
• Side affects of osteoporosis and depression

Question 8

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate a ‘different treatment’.

Answer 8

P - Anger management can be used as an alternative treatment
E - They involve cognitive behavioural techniques that challenge through process and role play to change behaviour
E - This treatment may be more effective as offenders learn life skills to help them long term to prevent reoffending

Question 9

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate the ‘expense’.

Answer 9

P - Hormone therapy is available on the NHS
E - This means that it should be available and accessible to all
E - However Maletzky found that 41% of people who were recommended treatment didn’t receive it due to lack of availability in area

Question 10

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate 2 ‘supporting studies’ points.

Answer 10

P - Maletzky (2006) supports
E - Found that anti-androgens compared to no treatment led to lower rates of sexual recidivism in response to a sexual stimuli that previously led to arousal
E - Therefore demonstrating that hormone treatment is effective in reducing recidivism in sexual offenders
P - Federoff (1992) supports
E - Found that 15% of those using MPA re-offended compared to 68% of those who weren’t
E - Therefore showing that hormone treatment is better than no treatment

Question 11

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate the ‘side effects’.

Answer 11

P - Berlin and P.Gagne (1981)
E - Found that side effects involve: weight gain, breast enlargement and depression
E - Side effects can make it less likely for people to undergo this treatment

Question 12

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate an ‘ethics’ point.

Answer 12

P - Hormone treatment can be a form of social control
E - Rather than attempting to change the offender’s behaviour, it simply deals with the symptoms
E - Therefore this may not be in the best interest of the offender

Question 13

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate whether it’s ‘reason or mask’.

Answer 13

P - Hormone treatment masks symptoms
E - It doesn’t tackle the cause of the offence
E - Therefore there is a risk of recidivism once the treatment is done

Question 14

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate a ‘time’ point.

Answer 14

P - Fairly quick response time
E - MPA breaks down testosterone as soon as it is administered
E - Thus it is quicker than behavioural treatment and so may be less effective long term, compared to anger management which teaches offenders life skills