성범죄자의 처우의 새로운 동향과 그 과제

The criminal justice system’s typical response to sex offenders has been detoxication through punishment. In particular, it has executed the passive policy of preventing second crimes by blocking sex offenders’ approach to potential victims through institutionalization. Recently, however, it is strongly suggested that psychological and medical treatments should be applied to sex offenders, especially, highly risky violent sex offenders such as pedophiles in connection to treatment at facilities and communities. In Korea as well,discussion on drug treatment (chemical castration) of child molesters was triggered by the murder of an elementary student at Anyang in 2007 and the attempted kidnapping of an elementary student at Ilsan in 2008. Over the introduction of drug treatment against sex offenders, pros and cons are having heated disputes. Even in the confrontation between pros and cons, however,they agree with each other on the side effects of long‐term drug treatment. Thus, this study reviewed the new trends of sex offender treatment centering on psychological and medical approaches, examined problems in the introduction of drug treatment against sex offenders, and suggested solutions for the problems.