Improvement of Victim Protection System
Nationwide Operation Increased to 3,700 Smartwatches
Perpetrator Criminal Record Check Also Conducted When Risk Is Assessed
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The police have strengthened victim protection by additionally distributing 'smartwatches' used for victim safety and improving the risk assessment checklist.
On the 6th, the National Police Agency announced that it had additionally distributed 1,400 smartwatches for personal protection to the field. The smartwatch is a device that connects to the police through real-time location tracking, allowing the police to immediately respond and protect the victim when the victim presses it in an emergency. A police official explained, "To address the surge in demand for smartwatches in the field, we decided to distribute additional units in consultation with the Ministry of Justice."
The additional distribution was allocated based on prior demand surveys and last year's distribution numbers as follows: 210 units in Seoul, 96 in Busan, 60 in Daegu, 99 in Incheon, 42 in Gwangju, 52 in Daejeon, 65 in Ulsan, 36 in Sejong, 180 in Southern Gyeonggi, 63 in Northern Gyeonggi, 50 in Gangwon, 54 in Chungbuk, 60 in Chungnam, 52 in Jeonbuk, 70 in Jeonnam, 60 in Gyeongbuk, 105 in Gyeongnam, and 46 in Jeju.
With this additional distribution, the total number of smartwatches operated nationwide has increased by 61% to 3,700 units. The police plan to operate the distribution efficiently by allocating and readjusting according to the demand from police stations under each city and provincial police agency.
Alongside this, the police decided to improve the 'Risk Assessment Checklist.' Previously, all risk factors for victims were identified solely based on victim statements, which raised concerns that key risk assessment data such as the perpetrator's criminal record or the victim's vulnerability could be omitted. An analysis of 65 cases of secondary damage to past personal protection subjects revealed that the perpetrator's criminal record was the most important predictor of recidivism.
Reflecting these analysis results, the police will have officers directly check and verify the perpetrator's criminal investigation history, 112 emergency call records, and parole period status when the perpetrator is booked, and will also include victim vulnerability factors. Additionally, they will strengthen accountability by adding a real-name system for the checklist author and a section for department head confirmation, and improve the process by including the checklist in investigation records to be used for measures such as perpetrator detention. A police official stated, "After a pilot operation at the Jeju Police Agency, we will expand it nationwide and monitor field implementation."
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