Ministry of Justice Recommends Using General Visiting Rooms That Block Contact Between Inmates and Lawyers
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Ministry of Justice (Minister Chu Mi-ae) has recommended that lawyers visiting inmates in correctional facilities use the general visitation rooms instead of the lawyer visitation rooms. The general visitation rooms are equipped with facilities that block physical contact between inmates and lawyers, which helps prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the ministry is encouraging greater use of these rooms.
The Ministry of Justice announced on the 17th that it has requested cooperation from the Korean Bar Association and has been implementing this measure since this month. This is a temporary measure established in response to the recent increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases among staff and inmates in some correctional facilities. The duration of this measure will last until the infectious disease crisis level stabilizes amid the spread of COVID-19.
Starting with a confirmed COVID-19 case of an employee at Gyeongbuk Northern Second Prison on the 24th of last month, three inmates at Gimcheon Juvenile Prison and seven employees at Daegu Prison and Daegu Detention Center were subsequently confirmed positive. Due to this, many inmates and staff have been quarantined, causing significant disruptions to inmate management and criminal justice operations, the Ministry of Justice explained.
Amid this situation, the Ministry of Justice determined that some restrictions on inmate visits by lawyers are necessary. Visits between inmates and lawyers have mainly taken place in the open lawyer visitation rooms, raising concerns about the introduction of infectious diseases.
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Other visitation conditions remain the same except for the use of general visitation rooms. The visitation time will not be restricted as it is currently, and if the transfer of litigation documents or unmanned stamping requiring contact with inmates is necessary, the assigned correctional officer will handle the delivery.
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