Electronic monitoring, which was initiated in September 2008 for the purpose of curbing recidivism in sex offense, has widened its net to cover the crimes of abducting a minor, homicide, and robbery. In addition, the maximum length of an electronic device attachment order has increased from 5 years to 30 years, which has led to increases in the number of those under electronic monitoring. However, the electronic monitoring system remains understaffed, despite repeated suggestions that more human and material resources be invested to improve the effectiveness of electronic monitoring. Also, it has been pointed out that probation officers are not provided with effective measures to sanction and restrain violators of ordered duties, while reoffences committed by persons wearing electronic devices draw media attention and generate public concern.
The current electronic monitoring system relies heavily on the technological capacity of tracking devices and control systems, but at the same time the roles of probation officers are pivotal in achieving the goal of reducing recidivism. Probation officers are in charge of supervising and supporting those wearing electronic devices to promote compliance with electronic device attachment orders and to take measures to control probation violators. Thus, it is crucial to increase the number of officers in charge in order to meet the goals of curbing recidivism and of facilitating rehabilitation.
This study aims to make suggestions to improve the electronic monitoring system by examining the administration of electronic monitoring in practice. For this purpose, the study conducted a survey with officers in charge of electronic monitoring at 58 probation offices including the Central Electronic Monitoring Center and the Daejeon Electronic Monitoring Center. In addition to probation officers, the survey also included temporary personnel who are assigned to emergency teams designed to strengthen the 24-hour monitoring of those wearing electronic devices and to deal with violation s in more and effective ways. Also, the study conducted workshops and consulted officers and administrators concerning possible improvement measures for increasing the effectiveness of electronic monitoring policies. In addition, the study analyzed official statistics pertaining to the administration of electronic monitoring.
This study concludes with a set of suggestions on how to improve the effectiveness of the electronic monitoring system. First, the most pressing issue is concerned with the shortage of manpower allocated for the system. There is an urgent need to increase the personnel in charge of monitoring and supervising offenders under electronic monitoring. Second, this study suggests that it needs to facilitate the provisional cancellation of an attachment order as a way to mitigate the adverse effects of long-term electronic monitoring. Another possible method of shortening the period of electronic monitoring is to lower the maximum length of an electronic device attachment order. Third, the introduction of the special judicial police system in the area of electronic monitoring could be considered as a possible solution to the issues of repeated probation violations and of damaging or detaching an electronic device.