Bio treatment for criminals - MPA Flashcards
What is MPA (Medroxyprogesterone acetate)? (3 points)
Anti-androgen - breaks down and eliminates testosterone
Inhibits the production of LH which reduces testosterone production
Used to treat paraphilias - intramuscular injection every 2 weeks
Define ‘paraphilia’.
A persistent and recurrent sexual interest, urge, fantasy, or behaviour of marked intensity involving objects, activities, or even situations that are atypical in nature
What are the 3 supporting and 3 refuting arguments for MPA as a biological treatment for offenders?
Supporting:
Maletzky et al (2006)
Dabbs et al (1995)
Ethical
Refuting:
Alternative treatment
Form of social control
Application
How does Maletzsky et al (2006) support MPA as a biological treatment for offenders? (3 points)
Investigated whether MPA reduces sexual recidivism versus no treatment
Half the sample was recommended MPA due to the nature of their offences
They found that 0% of sexual offenders re-offended with treatment whereas 59% re-offended without
What is the strength of Maletzky et al (2006)? (2 points)
Rich and valid data on the use of MPA due to in-depth outcome data of offenders such as:
+ Whether offenders were ‘doing well’
+ Whether they were ‘back in prison‘
+ Employment
+ Parole violations
Outcomes focused on more than just recidivism
What is the weakness of Maletzky et al (2006)? (2 points)
Supervisors’ rating of whether offenders are ‘doing well’ or not was subject to researcher bias
May lower the cause (MPA treatments or not) and effect (doing well)
How does Dabbs et al (1995) support MPA as a biological treatment for offenders? (3 points)
Found that prisoners who had committed violent and sexual crimes had higher levels of testosterone in their saliva compared to prisoners who had committed less violent crimes
Testosterone is an empirically proven cause of violence and aggressive crimes - MPA would be useful in reducing it
However, the study was androcentric - link to testosterone is only representative of males’ criminality
How do the ethics of MPA support it as a biological treatment for offenders? (3 points)
Avoids the barbaric solution of castration - less painful and less permanent so it is less of an issue of protection from harm
People are more likely to consent to MPA instead of castration, which makes testosterone reduction a more pragmatic solution
However, it is hard to maintain the course of administering MPA consistently, especially with unwanted side effects like weight gain and osteoporosis
What is an alternative treatment to MPA for criminals? (3 points)
Drug treatments such as MPA simply mask symptoms and don’t tackle the cause of the offence which could be cognitive or social explanations
Anger Management - alternative treatment which addresses cognitive causes, and involves learning cognitive, behavioural or somatic skills
May be more effective as offenders learn life skills to help them prevent reoffending - more long-lasting and effective
How does drug treatments being a form of social control limit MPA as a biological treatment for offenders? (4 points)
America’s 8th Amendement prohibits the government from cruel and unusual punishments - has caused people to protest courts prescribing biological treatments
Some political agencies may be less inclined to adopt these types of treatments for fear of public scrutiny around the loss of liberty
Therefore, biological treatments are less effective as a treatment in some political landscapes
On the other hand, people may choose to receive MPA voluntarily - may not be a form of social control
How does the limited application of hormone therapy limit MPA as a biological treatment for offenders? (2 points)
People may stop taking medications because they:
+ Simply forget
+ Run out of them
+ Experience side effects like weight gain and osteoporosis
People stopping their treatment may cause their testosterone levels to get high (the original cause of criminality) - can reignite offending
