Wearing an Electronic Bracelet, Sexually Assaulting an Elementary Student... Can We Prevent Horrific Recidivism?

Controversy Over Electronic Ankle Bracelet Effectiveness Amid Violent Crimes Including Murder and Rape
Ministry of Justice Significantly Increases Electronic Monitoring Staff to 154
Lee Sujeong: "Electronic Ankle Bracelets Are Necessary... Fundamental Change Must Be Achieved Through Management and Supervision"

Crimes committed by violent offenders wearing electronic anklets are increasing, causing citizens to live in fear. The photo is a reference image showing a demonstration of wearing an electronic anklet. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Choyoung Kim] #1. A(49), who has been wearing an electronic monitoring device (electronic anklet) since May 2019 after serving time for a sex crime, was arrested on the 22nd at a lodging facility in Gunsan. He was investigated to have cut off the electronic anklet and fled to Gunsan after moving from Jeonju to Iksan.

#2. Meanwhile, B(41), who had been wearing an electronic anklet for 10 years after being punished multiple times for sex crimes including a 6-year prison sentence for rape of a minor, was sentenced to 7 years in prison last September for forcibly molesting a victim who came out of an elementary school in Jeju City by dragging them into an alley.

Recently, cases of sex offenders wearing electronic anklets cutting them off and fleeing or committing crimes while still wearing them have occurred repeatedly, sparking ongoing controversy over the effectiveness of electronic anklets. To enhance the effectiveness of electronic anklets, urgent measures such as technical improvements including strengthening the material and increasing the number of probation officers are being called for.

According to data from the Ministry of Justice, about 60 sex offenders on average per year over the past five years have committed crimes even while wearing electronic anklets. Although there are recidivisms involving violent crimes such as murder or robbery, the number is relatively small compared to sex crimes. This indicates that many sex crimes are committed while wearing electronic anklets.

From 2016 to August 2020, out of 15,442 sex offenders under electronic monitoring, 294 were recidivists. The number of sex offenders under electronic monitoring and recidivists by year are as follows: △2016, 2,894 offenders with 58 recidivists (2.00%) △2017, 3,046 offenders with 66 recidivists (2.17%) △2018, 3,270 offenders with 83 recidivists (2.53%) △2019, 3,239 offenders with 55 recidivists (1.70%) △As of August 2020, 2,993 offenders with 32 recidivists (1.07%).

Regarding murder, there were 5 recidivists: △2017, 2 △2018, 2 △2019, 1; and for robbery, 4 recidivists: △2017, 1 △2018, 1 △2019, 2. There were 76 offenders under electronic monitoring for kidnapping, but none committed recidivism.

Electronic ankle bracelet. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, among 18,092 criminals wearing electronic anklets over the past five years, 327 committed recidivism, accounting for 1.92%. However, for murder, 5 out of 5,013 (0.1%), and for robbery, 4 out of 2,028 (0.2%) committed recidivism. This shows that the recidivism rate for sex crimes is significantly higher than that for murder and robbery committed while wearing electronic anklets.

There are also criticisms that electronic anklets are easy to damage, which increases the recidivism rate. According to the Ministry of Justice, about 200 cases per year are reported to the police for investigation due to damage to electronic anklets.

Previously, the Ministry of Justice developed a 'unified' electronic anklet in 2019, integrating the portable location tracking device after concerns were raised that the 'separable' electronic anklet?consisting of an ankle-worn attachment, a body-carried portable device, and a home-based device?was relatively easy to damage and discard. They also reinforced the thickness of the metal insert in the anklet by three times.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, there are criticisms that technical improvements such as device integration and material enhancement cannot fundamentally prevent damage to electronic anklets. This is why there are ongoing calls to establish a system for rapid response when damage or escape occurs and to strengthen the number of probation officers.

In response to this situation, the Ministry of Justice announced a plan to increase probation officer personnel earlier this month. On the 2nd, the Ministry of Justice issued a legislative notice for partial amendments to the organizational rules of affiliated institutions to increase 242 personnel necessary for one-on-one probation and electronic monitoring, alternative service system operation, and management of protected foreigners. According to the amendment, the Ministry of Justice affiliated institutions will increase personnel by △154 for expanded electronic monitoring response △34 for strengthening probation △8 for enhancing medical rehabilitation functions △31 for managing alternative service personnel and ensuring inmates' health rights △15 for managing protected foreigners and supporting multicultural families, totaling 242 personnel.

The Ministry of Justice stated, "This is to prevent incidents with a high risk of recidivism," adding, "As of last year, there were 192 subjects under one-on-one electronic monitoring, but only 24 supervisors." Among the 242 additional personnel, 101 will be assigned to electronic monitoring duties. Of these, 41 are expected to be deployed for one-on-one electronic monitoring.

Experts say the actual effect of this personnel increase should be observed first. While it is true that supervision of criminals wearing electronic anklets has been strengthened, the recidivism rate remains minimal. They emphasize that managing offenders to induce changes in their attitudes is necessary to prevent reoffending.

Professor Soojeong Lee of the Department of Psychology at Kyonggi University said, "Electronic anklets are necessary," and added, "It is important that probation officers responsible for electronic monitoring continuously admonish and support the monitored subjects to bring about fundamental changes in their attitudes."

Regarding the Ministry of Justice's recent announcement to increase the number of probation officers responsible for one-on-one electronic monitoring, she said, "41 is quite a significant number," and added, "We need to wait and see. Currently, about 60 sex offenders on average per year commit crimes again while wearing electronic anklets. Only by confirming whether this number decreases can we verify the effectiveness."

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