[News Terms] Can Recidivism of Sex Offenders Be Prevented... 'Korean-style Jessica Law'

The so-called 'Korean-style Jessica Law,' which requires high-risk repeat offenders or sex offenders against children to reside in designated facilities after release, has entered the full legislative process.

The Jessica Law is named after Jessica Lunsford, a 9-year-old girl who was the victim of a kidnapping and murder case in February 2005 in Florida, USA. The case came to light when Jessica's body was found 23 days after her abduction, and the perpetrator, John Couey, was arrested. The offender sexually assaulted the child and then killed her by confining her in a garbage bag. It was revealed that before committing the crime against Jessica, he had already been sentenced to 10 years for two prior child sex offenses and was released after serving only two years as a model prisoner. The incident sparked widespread outrage across American society, and the perpetrator was sentenced to death unanimously by the jury. Jessica's parents called for strict management of sex offenders, and the state legislature enacted the 'Jessica Law,' which prohibits sex offenders against children under 12 from living within 2,000 feet (610 meters) of schools.

On December 12, 2020, Jo Doo-soon, a child sex offender who was released after serving his sentence, arrived at his residence in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, and is getting out of a courtesy vehicle. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Our government also introduced the Jessica Law to prevent the public's fear from escalating whenever high-risk sex offenders are released. The bill on the 'Restriction of Residence for High-Risk Sexual Offenders' and the amendment to the 'Law on Drug Treatment for Sexual Impulse of Sexual Offenders' will be announced for legislative notice on the 26th. This reflects the surge in complaints from residents near the homes of offenders such as Jo Doo-soon, who sexually assaulted an 8-year-old girl, Kim Geun-sik, who sexually assaulted 12 minors, and Park Byung-hwa, a serial rapist known as the 'Suwon Bulbari,' when they were released after serving their sentences. The law is scheduled to be submitted to the Cabinet meeting after review by the Ministry of Government Legislation next month.

Once the law is enforced, those who have committed sexual crimes against children under 13 years old, or those who have committed sexual crimes three or more times and have been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison with an attached tracking device, will only be allowed to live in places designated by the court after release. They will also be required to undergo mandatory drug treatment for sexual impulses. Prosecutors will be required to conduct mandatory expert evaluations for high-risk sex offenders, and if the offender is diagnosed with paraphilia, a drug treatment order for sexual impulses will be requested.

According to the Ministry of Justice, as of the end of 2022, there are 325 high-risk sex offenders who require residence restrictions. This year, 69 offenders, 59 next year, and 59 in 2015 are expected to be released additionally. Those already released, such as Park Byung-hwa and Jo Doo-soon, will also be subject to retroactive application if their electronic monitoring period remains.

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