Chemical castration of sexual offenders

Verified 05 December 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

What treatment can be put in place to prevent recurrence from a sex offender? Chemical castration, also called libido inhibitor therapy, is a medical treatment intended for reduce the libido of a sex offender. This treatment does not result in no mutilation of the human body. Chemical castration is not not irreversible : its effects cease when the convicted person stops his treatment. Here is the information you need to know.

Chemical castration is a medical treatment which aims to reduce the production of testosterone by taking medicines. The purpose of the treatment is to reduce the sexual urges of the individual. It does not prevent sexual intercourse, but makes it much less frequent.

The effects of drugs last as long as the treatment is followed. When treatment is stopped, the effects also stop.

Please note

In France, there is no measure of castration physical against sex offenders.

Chemical castration concerns the perpetrators of sexual offenses, such as rape or sexual assault on major and on minor.

It may be decided in the context of a socio-judicial monitoring, of a parole, of a judicial oversight or a safety oversight.

For chemical castration to take place, it is necessary that the sex offender has undergone a medical examination and that the judges have pronounced a decision. injunction for care against him.

Please note

A socio-judicial follow-up accompanied by an injunction for care may be pronounced in the context of a probationary stay.

Who can prescribe chemical castration?

Chemical castration is not a judicial measure. This is a medical treatment. Thus, chemical castration (libido inhibitor therapy) is decided by the attending physician of the person sentenced to a injunction for care. This treatment cannot be ordered by the criminal jurisdiction who issued the care order.

FYI  

The doctor cannot prescribe chemical castration if he finds that the convicted person has a mental illness (example: schizophrenia).

Does the sex offender have to consent to chemical castration?

The establishment of a chemical castration requires the consent of the sentenced person. However, if she refuses to undergo such treatment, she faces criminal sanctions.

In the worst case, these sanctions may take the form of a prison sentence of:

  • 3 years in case of offense
  • 7 years in case of crime.

When does chemical castration begin?

The perpetrator of a sexual offense begins his treatment as soon as he is outside a prison.

However, treatment may begin while he's still being held. In this case, the sex offender is incarcerated in a specialized facility to provide appropriate medical and psychological follow-up.

How is the sex offender who is taking a libido-inhibiting treatment accompanied?

The perpetrator of a sexual offense is followed by his attending physician. If he doesn't have one, he has to choose one.

The treating physician issues certificates of follow-up of the treatment at regular intervals. This allows the convict to justify the completion of the libido inhibitor treatment.

Once a year, one coordinating physician, designated by application sentencing judge, meets the convicted person to take stock of his situation (evolution of the person's condition, proposals on the continuation of care, etc.). The coordinating doctor forwards this assessment to the judicial authorities.

When does chemical castration end?

Libido-inhibiting therapy stops when it stops the care order. The duration of this measure is determined by the judge who pronounces it. It varies between 1 and 20 years.

FYI  

In principle, the care order cannot be longer than the measure under which it was put in place. Nevertheless, at the end of a socio-judicial monitoring or during a parole, the coordinating doctor informs the sentenced person (through his/her treating doctor) that he/she can continue to receive treatment. If the person decides to continue their treatment, the coordinating doctor tells them how they should be taken and how long they think it will take for the treatment to take effect.

The treating physician may choose tointerrupt treatment if it has a reason (for example, the offender does not support the treatment). In this case, he informs the judge of the application of the sentences and the coordinating doctor.

If the sex offender stops treatment against the advice of his/her attending physician, he/she may be punished for violating the obligations of his/her care order.

Example :

Among the sanctions that can be imposed are:

  • The revocation probationary reprieve
  • A prison sentence of 3 years in case of offense
  • A sentence of 7 years in prison for one crime.