Jeonnam Police Actively Support Minor Livelihood Crimes to Prevent 'COVID-19 Jangbaljang'

77 Sentence Reductions in 4 Months Through Minor Crime Review Committee, 71.1% Increase Compared to Previous Year

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Jeonnam Police Agency announced on the 12th that it operated the Minor Crime Review Committee for four months from January to April to protect socially vulnerable groups and prevent the stigma of ex-convicts, and decided to reduce penalties for 77 out of 78 subjects.

The Minor Crime Review Committee is a system that decriminalizes minor criminal cases. Since 2018, Jeonnam Police Agency has operated it at all police stations, composed of 5 to 7 internal and external members including legal experts and professors, with the police chief as the chairman.

The review targets are selected and reviewed among criminal cases and summary trials scheduled for violations of criminal law or special laws punishable by fines of 200,000 won or less, detention, or administrative fines, where the case is minor and the evidence is clear.

For those without prior records of similar crimes, elderly, disabled, minors, basic livelihood security recipients, and others requiring social and economic protection, the degree of damage and nature of the crime are considered to decide whether to reduce penalties. Criminal cases are decided to request summary trials, and summary trial cases are reduced to warnings.

Looking at major reduction cases, on January 6, Suncheon Police Station gave warnings to four suspects who played Go-Stop gambling in a lodging office, considering no prior records of similar crimes or summary trial requests, as well as the gambling circumstances and amounts.

Also, on March 9, a woman in her 70s who stole sanitary pads worth 7,990 won at a supermarket due to bleeding after gynecological surgery was given a reduced summary trial considering the motive, criminal record, and damage amount.

Furthermore, on February 25, Goheung Police Station reduced the summary trial for a man in his 50s with intellectual disabilities who stole two 100,000 won gift certificates left on a bank ATM at the Nonghyup 365 corner, considering recovery of stolen goods, non-wish for punishment, and criminal record.

Jeonnam Police plans to actively promote the revitalization of the Minor Crime Review Committee by ▲ sharing excellent cases of summary trial requests by crime type ▲ inspecting and analyzing the operation performance of the Minor Crime Review Committee ▲ issuing guidelines for handling minor cases and reflecting them in the evaluation of the best criminal teams.

A Jeonnam Police Agency official stated, “Through the revitalization of the Minor Crime Review Committee, we will strive to protect socially vulnerable groups and establish a police image trusted by residents through fair law enforcement that resonates with the public.”