범죄피해자 변호사 제도의 보완 필요성과 보완방향 - 2022년 현 시점의 논의 -

Many years have already passed since the victim attorney system was introduced for legal assistance for victims. The recent institutionalization of a victim public defender was by necessity for legal assistance for victims of sexual violence crimes. In 2011, the "Act on the Protection of Children and Youth against Sex Offenses" was revised, and a new legal assistant system was established for children and adolescents affected by sexual violence crimes. In addition, ‘the Act on Special Cases concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes’ was revised in 2012, allowing the appointment of victim attorney for legal assistance against children under the age of 13 and victims of sexual violence crimes with disabilities. In 2013, victims of sexual violence crimes and child abuse crimes were provided with a public defender that covered the cost of the government. As such, their target crimes of victim legal assistance have gradually expanded, and it is still argued that they should be expanded to all crime victims and contribute to the actual protection of victims. In this article, I examine the regulations related to the rights of crime victims and the basis for legal assistance of victims in criminal proceedings. And after that, I point out the problems that arise in establishing the current victim attorney system. And I added some additional suggestions for this system.