The Case Processing Period Has Decreased, While Crime Proceeds Preservation Has Increased

Decrease in Pre-Function Period for Police Station Case Processing

The average case processing time in police investigation departments has noticeably shortened, and the number of cases involving the preservation of criminal proceeds has also significantly increased.

The National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency announced on the 23rd that as of May 2024, the average case processing time across all police investigation departments was 59.1 days, a 20.5% decrease compared to 74.3 days in March 2022. The average case processing time in police station investigation departments, which handle most public livelihood cases, also decreased by 21.3% during the same period, recording 57.3 days.

In particular, the case processing times by function at frontline police stations have all become faster since 2022, when processing times were the longest.

The criminal investigation function decreased by 13.6%, from 50.1 days to 43.3 days, and the violent crime function also shortened by 13.6%, from 59.4 days to 51.3 days. Other functions showed steady decreases as well, including intelligence by 14.9% (106.6 days → 90.7 days), women and youth by 13.5% (53.4 days → 46.2 days), and traffic by 6.2% (37.3 days → 35 days).

The average case processing time of the ‘Investigation Team,’ which integrates the economic and cyber teams at police stations, also improved significantly to 73.6 days, compared to the longest processing times in 2022 (Cyber Team 119.1 days, Economic Team 88 days).

Not only has case processing become faster, but positive effects are also emerging in the practical recovery of victims’ damages through the confiscation and preservation of criminal proceeds.

Last year, the number of confiscation and preservation cases was 1,829, and the value of preserved assets was 506 billion KRW, representing a 52% increase in cases and a 15% increase in the amount preserved compared to the previous year. From January to April this year, the number of preservation cases was 588, and the amount preserved was 158.3 billion KRW, showing a 56% increase in cases and a 115% increase in the amount preserved compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, before the 2021 amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, the average annual number of criminal proceeds preservation cases was only 165 during 2019 and 2020, but it has steadily increased since then. Over the three years from 2021, the average annual number of cases rose to 1,297, 7.9 times higher than before the amendment, and the amount preserved also increased 7.8 times to 593.3 billion KRW.

This is interpreted as the result of actively tracking criminal proceeds following the expansion of target crimes with the enforcement of the revised Act on the Regulation of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds in January 2022. The National Investigation Headquarters plans to further strengthen the recovery of crime victims by establishing the ‘Criminal Proceeds Tracking Investigation Division’ this year for systematic tracking and preservation of criminal proceeds.

Woo Jong-su, head of the National Investigation Headquarters, said, “Although indicators related to case processing are improving, the number of case filings is increasing due to the implementation of the revised investigation guidelines in November 2023, which require the acceptance of all complaints and accusations. We will continuously manage this to prevent an increase in case processing time.” He added, “In 2024, we will make every effort to eradicate fraud crimes through case consolidation, focused investigations, and a comprehensive response to fraud crimes regardless of function.”