I do hope that chemical castration is now banned in USA. It was never allowed in UK so far as I know. It's clearly barbaric and it was not what I was referring to.
Psychological help for people who commit sexual offences against people does not seem to me an unreasonable way for governments to proceed. The problem is that these courses are designed for everyone labelled as a sex offender regardless of the severity of their crime. This is a blunt instrument as I said. I am not condoning it, but I am not saying either that good cannot come out of it.
Although there were aspects of the course that I undertook which I do feel were inappropriate in my case there were also many things that I learnt and it was very interesting and often deeply moving to hear from other people who had committed sexual crimes of one sort or another. Discussion is always a Good Thing. The manipulation by the psychological process that was designed into the course was not. The question for me is whether I can sort out in my own mind where the manipulation actually ended and where solid home truths began - that isn't so easy for me. I am hoping to post more about this under Chris's entry above.