Jeonnam Provincial Council Implements 'Support Ordinance for Social Settlement of Probationers'

Jeonnam Province Supervises 2,411 Probationers... Need to Support Livelihood Stability, Reduce Recidivism, and Aid Social Reintegration

Assemblyman Kang Jeong-hee

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Most probationers have vulnerable livelihoods, and especially when there are no relatives or acquaintances to provide support, their basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not immediately met, leading to an increased recidivism rate.

The “Jeollanam-do Ordinance on Social Settlement Support for Probationers,” which was primarily proposed by Kang Jeonghee, Chair of the Health, Welfare, and Environment Committee of the Jeonnam Provincial Council, was promulgated and enacted on the 29th of last month.

According to the Jeonnam Provincial Council on the 6th, probation is a system that allows offenders to live in society under certain conditions instead of being confined in prison, with probation officers managing and supervising them.

Originally implemented for the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders, it has now been expanded to include adults.

Probationers include those who have received a suspended sentence or probation on the condition of probation, parolees or temporarily discharged individuals, and those subject to protective measures under the Juvenile Act.

From 2016 to 2018, the average annual number of crimes in Jeonnam was 55,893, with three probation offices operating in Suncheon, Mokpo, and Haenam, and the number of probationers reaching 2,411.

According to data released by the Korea Legal Research Institute in 2018, one in four released prisoners reoffend and are re-incarcerated within three years.

The Korea Institute of Criminology reported that the social cost of crime amounts to 158 trillion won annually, with recidivism accounting for 100 trillion won, and that every 1% reduction in the recidivism rate saves 90.3 billion won in social costs annually.

The Korea Rehabilitation Welfare Corporation is the sole recidivism prevention agency, conducting various projects to reduce reoffending among released prisoners and probationers and to support their independence.

For example, the “Hug Job Support” program showed a recidivism rate of 0.3% (36 out of 10,980) among released prisoners who received employment services, demonstrating significant effectiveness in crime prevention and successful social reintegration.

Chairperson Kang Jeonghee stated, “Probationers should not be viewed only negatively; actively supporting recidivism prevention and helping them maintain a normal livelihood is a reasonable way to enhance safety in Jeonnam and reduce social costs,” explaining the purpose of the ordinance.

She added, “While it is natural that those who commit crimes pay their dues, I hope that with the implementation of this ordinance, systematic support will be provided so that probationers can achieve rehabilitation rather than reoffending.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.