Upon Release, Jo Doo-soon Will Be Monitored 24/7 by a Dedicated Probation Officer

Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and National Police Agency
Announce Recidivism Prevention and Management Measures

Officials are installing security CCTV cameras in an alleyway in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, about two months before the release of Jo Doo-soon, an elementary school student kidnapper and sex offender.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Ahead of the release of child sex offender Jo Doo-soon on December 13, the government has proposed a plan to monitor him 24 hours a day considering public anxiety.

The Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and the National Police Agency announced on the 30th the "Jo Doo-soon Recidivism Prevention and Management Plan" containing these details. The Ministry of Justice, as the main department for this measure, will also promote necessary legal amendments before his release in addition to preparing joint management plans.

First, Jo Doo-soon, who is scheduled to be released with an electronic ankle bracelet, will be designated as an electronic monitoring subject. This means a dedicated probation officer will be assigned to monitor his movements in real time 24 hours a day. If violations occur, the case will be referred to investigative agencies and an extension of the electronic device attachment period will be requested. Additionally, specialized programs for correcting Jo Doo-soon's distorted sexual awareness and alcohol treatment will be implemented.

The police will designate the area within a 1 km radius of Jo Doo-soon's residence as a women’s safety zone and will promote the expansion of CCTV and installation of security posts. Ansan City, where he will stay after release, plans to double the current 3,622 CCTVs by the first half of next year. The government also submitted a budget proposal to the National Assembly to increase the number of probation officers by 188.

Related legal amendments will also be pursued. Through the prompt legislation of the amendment to the Electronic Device Attachment Act, proposed last month by Kim Nam-guk of the Democratic Party, compliance measures such as banning entry to child facilities and restricting outings will be applied immediately upon Jo Doo-soon’s release. Furthermore, by amending the "Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act," which mainly expands the disclosure of sex offenders' personal information, the addresses of sex offenders including Jo Doo-soon will be disclosed down to the building number. Currently, disclosure is limited to the eup, myeon, and dong levels.