The five-year increase in the number of inmates assaulting correctional facilities...190 cases last year

It has been found that the number of inmates assaulting correctional facility employees has been on a steady rise over the past five years.

According to the data submitted by the Office of Representative Park Joon-tae of the People's Power from the Ministry of Justice, 190 cases were sent to the prosecution last year after an inmate assaulted a correctional facility employee.

The number of cases sent was similar from 66 in 2019 to 97 in 2020 and 111 in 2021, followed by 109 in 2022, a sharp increase to 190 last year.

Direct expenses such as meals and medical expenses for one prisoner increased by 280,000 won in three years from 2.5 million won in 2020 to 2.78 million won last year.

When indirect expenses such as labor costs and accommodation management costs are calculated as expenses per prisoner and combined with direct expenses, the cost of one prisoner increased from 26.82 million won in 2020 to 31.73 million won last year.

Meanwhile, the number of complaints filed with the National Human Rights Commission in prisons nationwide reached 4,530 last year, the highest in the last five years.