Norway to use 'chemical castration'

OSLO, Norway, June 7 (UPI) -- Four convicted rapists and pedophiles in Norway have agreed to government sanctioned "chemical castration" to reduce their sexual urges.

The newspaper Dagsavisen reported Monday the imprisoned offenders have undergone six months of group therapy. Doctors said the men's sex drive would return if the treatments are stopped, but the hormone treatments could continue after the men are released, if requested.

While the hormone treatment of prisoners is a first for Norway, Denmark has conducted voluntary hormone treatments on 25 sex offenders since 1989 and none has committed a sexual assault after treatment.

The program is voluntary and none of the prisoners will receive any sentence reduction nor any other advantage, the newspaper said.