Meeting Public Comments

Amber Vlangas [RAA]

RAA is happy to oppose with the following comment:Restorative Action Alliance (RAA) wishes to express its strong opposition to HF17 (Forced Surgical Castration). Restorative Action Alliance is a nonpartisan, social welfare organization that works to address intimate and genderbased violence such as sexual harassment, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, rape and assault & other types of intimate harm, and ineffective approaches that our criminal legal system utilizes to address sexual harm.RAA urges you to reject this bill based on its violations of the U.S. Constitution and the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Not only will this policy not reduce instances of sexual harm, the citizens of IOWA deserve better treatment than these clear violations of their human rights and a disregard of evidencebased solutions.This proposal eliminates the opportunity for forgiveness, redemption, and rehabilitation, while doing nothing to provide assistance to crime survivors. In fact, the bill misunderstands how most sexual violence occurs. Most child sexual abuse survivors are harmed by someone they know, such as a family member, known trusted adult or acquaintance. This disproportionate and permanent consequence disincentivizes disclosure and reporting, particularly within families leaving children at risk.This bill, with its blanket approach, subjects people to lifelong changes, and does not consider the possibility for rehabilitation. In addition, this forced sterilization leaves no room for systemic inequities or judicial/procedural errors, subjecting people to a lifelong punishment when they may be innocent of the crime of which they are accused.When deciding on a punishment for a crime, the US Supreme Court asks three questions:1. Is the proposed punishment cruel or excessive?2. Is the punishment proportional to the offense?3. Can the state achieve its punishment goal through less intrusive means?Utilizing the test above, this proposal is an inappropriate response that violates the 1st, 8th, and 14th Amendments to the US Constitution, representing an affront to all Americans but particularly survivors of sexual harm. The idea that the state would institute policies and practices that trample consent and infringe on bodily autonomy in the name of survivors is outrageous and unacceptable. Survivorcentered approaches include: education, primary prevention, restorative practices, rehabilitation and services that meet the physical and mental health needs of those who have experienced harm and their families.We urge you to reject this proposal in the name of human rights and decency as well as to adhere to the US constitution. Allowing the state to commit human rights violations is notonly counterproductive to public safety goals, but also disrespectful to survivors and their allies who seek effective solutions that will end cycles of sexual violence and uplift the humanity of all people.

Tami Smith [Iowans Unafraid ]

I am not the smartest person in the room, but can't we mandate education and counseling to individuals in place of Castration. We offer counseling for drug addition, why are we not offering it for sex addiction? It's real. Get your head out of the sand and work on fixing the person, not maiming a person and their family.

Shawn Bainbridge [Iowans Unafraid]

AS Vice President of Iowans Unafraid, we as an organization wholeheartedly are opposed to this bill. Not only is it cruel and unusual punishment and inhumane, its also against a persons civil rights. Many states have passed such laws, and end up with a lengthy court fight over the constitutionality of such a law. The tax payers of Iowa shouldnt have to bear that burden. In a justice systems that sometimes gets things wrong, convicting innocent people of a crime they didnt commit. I cant stand to think what would happen if this law were passed and someone were wrongly convicted and castrated under this law. Theres no way to make it right after the fact. WHre would the funds come from to enforce this law? Are the tax payers of Iowa going to being for the surgery? Thats a burden that they shouldnt bear. The money that would be used to enforce this could be better used focusing on rehabilitation and treatement rather than punishment.

Sharon Gray

As an advocate for individuals on the registry I oppose this bill and ask you to vote NO today.

Mary Cohen

I am an Iowa citizen and I am wholeheartedly against this bill. Please use your energy toward working on legislation that is healing, restorative, and caringNOT unethical and harmful like this bill.

Ben Hanson

It's crucial that we protect our children, but we must also consider the impact of such harsh consequences have on an offender's life. Some sexually explicit recordings do not have the same impact has actual, physical sex. We should treat rapists with heavier penalties than an individual sharing sexual explicit messages. They are not the same and yet the sex offender registry consolidates all sex crimes, including less severe ones. The 3 tier system fails to sufficiently differentiate the severity of the crime. Furthermore, once on the registry everyone knows and has access to those public records. We only do this for sex offenses. Wouldn't you want to know if a murderer lived next door to you too? The sex offender registry is uniquely different and the consequences are blown out of proportion when compared to the actual crime. So, the result these registries is that the whole community is turned against offenders causing the offenders to live in constant fear and anxiety rather than offering them the opportunity to make amends and move in with their lives. Also, I cannot believe that the HF17 castration bill is even proposed. Are we so foolish and cowardly to resort to such barbaric, inhumane measures? Please focus on actual sex offenses that involve actual sex and rape. Don't waste state resources on punishing these minor offenses.Alternatively, abolish the registry altogether and create less harsh penalties for crimes like sexting, child pornography, and especially urinating in public.

Constance Stannard

This bill is clearly unconstitutional as a violation of the eighth amendment against cruel and unusual punishments. This bill also will accomplish nothing toward reducing or eliminating sexual violence. This is also a sexist bill. It is barbaric and unacceptable that the citizens of the state of Iowa would be complicit in mutilating human beings because we are angry at their behavior. This bill should be stopped at this juncture.

Daniel Newell

Sex can be and is proven to be an addictive behavior the same as alcohol and drugs, many things can lead up to this behavior which if not treated can get progressively worse, the same as drugs and alcohol,,set up a program to help , we stopped cutting off the hand of thief a long time ago...alcohol and drugs destroy families and lives and affect children also...this seem alot like discrimination..not to mention the courts have a hard enough time trying to figure out who should get a "special sentence " and who should not.it is my belief that castration is a mid evil practice and very unconstitutional