(Jefferson City, Mo.) – A proposed punishment in Missouri for some convicted child molesters is surgical castration.

State Rep. Scott Cupps, R-Shell Knob, has pre-filed a bill for the next legislative session that would allow the court to sentence some pedophiles to surgical castration if they are at least 17 years old. Under his bill, offenders guilty of certain sex crimes against children would have surgery prior to being released from prison.

Several other states have considered similar bills. In 2024, Louisiana became the first state to pass similar legislation.

In other states, opponents have argued that castration is “cruel and unusual” punishment in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Missouri has more than 17,700 registered sex offenders.

The next legislative session begins Ja

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