Prisoner Escapes During Treatment Spark Calls for Strengthened Management Measures
On the 4th of this month, the fugitive Kim Gil-su, who had escaped while receiving treatment, was apprehended in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province. The photo captures Mr. Kim being pursued by detectives from Uijeongbu Police Station in Gajeong-dong district, Uijeongbu City, just before his arrest on the 6th, marking the third day of his escape.
Correctional Authorities’ Management Under Scrutiny
The incident involving Kim Gil-su, who absconded from custody under the guise of using the restroom while undergoing medical treatment, has raised questions about the control of prisoners outside detention centers. Concerns have been voiced about preventing further “escapes during treatment” and there have been calls for the enhancement of prisoner surveillance personnel training and improvements in the infrastructure of affiliated hospitals.
- Mr. Kim, aged 36, had been receiving treatment at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital in Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, when he exploited a temporary lapse in surveillance to flee from the hospital. This incident underscores the challenges in managing prisoners outside of secured detention facilities.
- There have been previous cases of similar escapes during treatment, highlighting the need for stricter measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Challenges in Managing Prisoners Outside Detention Facilities
Authorities are grappling with practical difficulties in overseeing prisoners outside of detention centers and facilities, particularly in outpatient hospitals where there are numerous variables. Unlike secure police detention centers or correctional facilities, ensuring tight security in hospitals presents distinct challenges.
One major concern is the issue of allowing prisoners to use the bathroom while also ensuring their security. The current Enforcement Rules of the Penal Action Act allow for the “temporary suspension of the use of protective equipment” while prisoners are using the restroom, raising questions about balancing the risk of flight with respect for human rights.
Proposed Measures and Discussions
The Ministry of Justice aims to capitalize on this incident as an opportunity to implement enhanced measures for managing prisoners outside of correctional facilities. Discussions are underway to bolster the training of surveillance personnel and improve the infrastructure of hospitals where such individuals are primarily treated.
Professor Yoon Woo-seok of Keimyung University, an expert in police administration, stressed the importance of strengthening guard training and ensuring that treatment facilities have secure areas for bathroom use, without windows, to prevent future escapes.
As the authorities grapple with these challenges, a balance must be struck between security concerns and human rights considerations in managing prisoners outside of traditional detention centers.
On the 4th, the fugitive Kim Gil-su, who ran away while receiving treatment, was arrested in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province. The photo shows Mr. Kim being chased by detectives from Uijeongbu Police Station in Gajeong-dong district, Uijeongbu City, just before he was arrested on the 6th, the third day of his escape. random news
☞ Subscribe to the Hankyoreh H: 730 newsletter. Type ‘Hankyoreh h730′ in the search bar. The correctional authorities’ control of prisoners outside the detention center is on the chopping block following the incident of Kim Gil-soo (36), who ran away under the pretext of using the restroom while receiving hospital treatment while n being imprisoned in the detention centre. In order to prevent repeated ‘escapes during treatment’, there are calls for strengthening the training of prisoner surveillance personnel and improving the structure of associated hospitals. According to the Ministry of Justice and the police on the 7th, while receiving treatment at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital in Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, at around 6:20 am on the 4th, Mr Kim asked the guards ” use the rest room,” and when they handcuffed him, he went to the bathroom in the hospital room, and went there and took advantage of the lack of surveillance to escape from the hospital. Mr Kim, who was previously arrested on charges of robbery intensive on the 30th of last month, requiring treatment after swallowing part of a plastic spoon handle in a detention cell at Seocho Police Station in Seoul. ‘Escape during treatment’ often occurs when surveillance is neglected to some extent extensive. In August 2015, a prisoner was being treated at a hospital in Daejeon when he escaped while his handcuffs were being removed to use the restroom, and was captured 28 days later. In 2018, a prisoner in Busan ran also away from the hospital where he was receiving treatment and was arrested 40 minutes later. People in the field complain that there are great practical difficulties in managing prisoners outside detention centers and detention centres. This is because, unlike police detention centers or detention centers where security is tight, there are many variables in outpatient hospitals. However, use of the bathroom cannot be prohibited, and prisoners cannot be followed by the police or prison guards. The head of the criminal division in Seoul told the Hankyoreh, “The problem is when you’re escorting a suspect on the highway and he suddenly says he needs to go to the bathroom. I’m worried about him running away, but the police can’t help he’s using the bathroom, so the only way is to remove his handcuffs.” he did The current Enforcement Rules of the Penal Action Act also state that prisoners can ‘temporarily suspend the use of protective equipment’ when taking a bath or using the restroom. Last July, the National Human Rights Commission also ruled, based on this regulation, that it was “a violation of human rights” for a prisoner to use the toilet while wearing protective equipment. An official from the National Police Agency’s Investigation and Human Rights Division said, “There are points where it is difficult to meet the risk of flight and human rights issues.” The Ministry of Justice intends to use this event as an opportunity to strengthen measures to manage prisoners outside correctional facilities. Measures to strengthen the training of surveillance personnel and improve the structure of associated hospitals where they are mainly treated are discussed first. Professor Yoon Woo-seok of Keimyung University (police administration) said, “As most prisoners escape when surveillance is neglected, there is a need to strengthen the training of guards (prisoner surveillance) and ensure that hospitals have n associated with bathroom correctional facilities. without windows.” he said. Reporter Kwak Jin-san kjs@hani.co.kr, Reporter Jeon Gwang-jun light@hani.co.kr
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