A bill to chemically castrate paedophiles has been passed by lawmakers in the US State of Alabama.
The legislation, known as House Bill 379, would see those convicted of crimes against minors chemically castrated before they leave prison.
It was passed by Alabama lawmakers on Friday and is now one step away from being signed into law by the state governor.
Republican State Representative Steve Hurst, who introduced the legalisation, told CBS-affiliate WIAT-TV: “They have marked this child for life and the punishment should fit the crime.”
He added: "I had people call me in the past when I introduced it and said 'don't you think this is inhumane'?
"I asked them what's more inhumane than when you take a little infant child, and you sexually molest that infant child when the child cannot defend themselves or get away, and they have to go through all the things they have to go through.
"If you want to talk about inhumane - that's inhumane.
“If we do something of this nature it would deter something like this happening again in Alabama and maybe reduce the numbers."
According to LegiScan, the bill was delivered to Governor Key Ivey’s desk on Friday.
Chemical castration uses hormone treatment to suppress sexual urges.
It does not involve surgical removal of parts of the genitals like standard castration.
Eight states in the US allow chemical or even surgical castration of sex offenders.
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Oregon, Montana and Wisconsin have laws which allow courts to order castration before a sex offender is released.
California, Georgia, Louisiana, Montana and Wisconsin only allow chemical castration to those who committed crimes against minors.
But California, Florida and Louisiana also give sex offenders the option of chemical or surgical castration.
