최근 성범죄 관련 법률의 입법 과정의 문제점

This article addresses and explores the evolution of criminal justice policies,particularly those pertaining to the sentencing of sex offenders. The author’s principle concern is about the process that produces the laws which regulate sex-offenders. The legislative processes through which the laws were made were almost entirely devoid of expert scrutiny from governmental specialists or from scholars. No form of offending provokes greater public condemnation and desire to punish than crimes of sexual aggression, especially when the victims are children. These tragic crimes attract intense news media attention, and punitive legislation often emerges, because politicians often respond quickly to the public demand. The author’s general conclusion is that the recently made sex-offender laws in Korea are examples of populist preemption of criminal justice policy making. Some of the recently made sex-offender laws in Korea require the courts to hand down a mandatory and enhanced punishment to persons who have been convicted of sex crimes. The rationale for these laws is based on the idea of deterrence and incapacitation. However, the author of this article argues that those laws violate ‘proportionality principle’, and that it is prevention, not punishment that puts a dent in crime. The author suggests more focus on prevention rather than punishment for protecting society from violent crimes and repeat offenders.