[Ministry of Justice Report] Introduction of 'Treatment Order System'... Follow-up Management of High-Risk Mental Illness Offenders

n번방·Jodusoond·COVID-19 Anxiety... Focus on Establishing Livelihood Stability Systems

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The Ministry of Justice will introduce a treatment order system for high-risk mentally ill offenders. This means that high-risk mentally ill offenders with a high likelihood of reoffending will be required to receive treatment even after their sentence has ended.

In the '2021 Ministry of Justice Major Work Plan' released on the 8th, key tasks for this year aimed at a safe society, in addition to the new criminal justice system and prosecution reform, were included. The plan aims to address public anxiety caused by incidents such as the 'Nth Room case' that shocked the entire nation and the 'Jo Doo-soon release' that unsettled local communities, as well as to improve inequality and polarization caused by COVID-19.

The focus is on children and women. Following the establishment of a child rights protection control tower at the Ministry of Justice last month, the ministry will investigate the actual conditions of child abuse cases, analyze their causes, and comprehensively review the child abuse response system. Improvements to the criminal justice system will be pursued with a child rights-centered approach, including defining the prosecutor's role as a monitor of child abuse cases and expanding court-appointed defense for victimized children. The ministry also plans to strengthen the capabilities of dedicated child abuse officials and build an advanced child protection system through cooperation with related agencies.

Detention of digital sex offenders, such as those involved in the Nth Room case, will also be expanded. The ministry plans to strengthen punishment by implementing enhanced court sentencing guidelines and take specialized recidivism prevention measures through correctional institution psychological treatment programs that reflect the characteristics of non-contact sex crimes. Additionally, the ministry will clearly define stalking as a crime punishable by imprisonment and other penalties, and promote the enactment of the 'Stalking Punishment Act' to protect victims from the early stages of the crime through emergency and provisional measures, preventing escalation to more serious offenses.

Measures to create a society safe from COVID-19 will also be implemented. Special quarantine measures such as rapid antigen testing and two-week quarantine upon admission to correctional facilities will be enforced. These tasks will be handled by the newly formed 'Correctional Facility COVID-19 Response Task Force,' which will serve as a control tower responsible for on-site command, support of quarantine supplies, cooperation with related agencies, and establishment of quarantine measures in correctional facilities.

A treatment order system to prevent recidivism among high-risk mentally ill offenders will also be introduced. This rehabilitation measure aims to prevent reoffending after high-risk mentally ill offenders complete their sentences and return to society. It involves ensuring that individuals with mental illnesses or addictions such as alcoholism continue to receive treatment after their sentence ends. Discussions are currently underway to introduce the 'Treatment Order System after Sentence Completion' with these provisions. A Ministry of Justice official stated, "We will focus on human rights-centered legal administration that respects life, freedom, and diversity, and on inclusive policies that consider marginalized groups and minorities."