Local Childcare Centeres Suffer from Lack of Smartphones and Laptops

Originally published by Joongang Sunday on 03/04/2020

Summary

As with elementary, middle and high schools nationwide, local childcare centers and nurseries have been forced to close facilities and convert to an online class system. In light of the comparative lack of resources, local childcare centers and nurseries (funded by local government) are suffering from a lack of smartphones and laptops necessary to accommodate online classes.This problem is increasing in scale as schools shut down and more children are flocking to local care centers and nurseries. Families of such children very often lack mobile devices and laptops at homes to facilitate online classes.The problem is exacerbated as these facilities more often serve the low-income demographics. Children are often left to tend to themselves alone during the daytime, during which parents are out to work. The problem also affects students in the latter years of middle and high school, during which academic progress is more pivotal than in other periods.

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Coronavirus-caused Quarantine of Detainees Problematic in Midst of Prison Overcrowding

Originally published by Hankook Ilbo on 30/03/2020

Summary

The Jeju Province Correction Facility in South Korea has a capacity of 500 detainees. In 2019, it has held more than 132% of maximum capacity.  In light of the current circumstances surrounding the coronavirus, the Jeju Province has seen a large uptick in the issuance of probation for criminal defendants otherwise convicted and sentenced to prison time. The Jeju Province Correction Facility has recently implemented the protocol of quarantining any new inmate for a period of 14 days in solitary confinement.

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Jeonnam Province to Provide Monthly Subsidy to Adolescents Recently Exiting Custody Centers

Originally published by Yeonhap News on 17/03/2020

Summary

Jeonnam Province has decided to offer a monthly subsidy of approximately USD 300 to all adolescents exiting child custody centers due to exceeding the age limit (18 years old). The subsidy applies to any child who has stayed and exited a child custody center in the last 2 years. Approximately 400 individuals are expected to receive the subsidy.

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Doctors Guard Against Prisons Against COVID-19

Originally published by Korea Biomedical Review on 17/03/2020

Summary

Healthcare workers in Daegu are helping to fill the void in caring for inmates vulnerable to the coronavirus in Daegu’s prison and detention centers. Two doctors share their story of being deployed to Daegu’s correction facilities and the requisite cautions and protocols to reduce the fear and proliferation of the coronavirus in prisons. Notably, both doctors note the shortage of medical resources being deployed to prisons.

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Jeonnam Province to Provide Monthly Subsidy to Adolescents Recently Exiting Custody Centers

Originally published by Yeonhap News on 17/03/2020

Summary

Jeonnam Province has decided to offer a monthly subsidy of approximately USD 300 to all adolescents exiting child custody centers due to exceeding the age limit (18 years old). The subsidy applies to any child who has stayed and exited a child custody center in the last 2 years. Approximately 400 individuals are expected to receive the subsidy.

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Ministry of Justice Suspends Prison Visits

Originally published by Seoul Economy Daily on 23/02/2020

Summary

The South Korean Ministry of Justice issued an order to suspend all visits to inmates in correction facilities, juvenile detention centers, and foreigner custody centers. This order applies to all facilities nationwide until further notice. Online visit sessions will be allowed in place of live visits.

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Coronavirus Leads to Correction Facilities Suspension of Visits

Originally published by Newsis on 03/02/2020

Summary

As the South Korean government elevated the risk level of the coronavirus as “serious”, correction facilities and detention centers nationwide have been ordered by the Ministry of Justice to suspend visits to all facilities.  The Ministry of Justice will allow for virtual visits to such facilities via use of smartphone apps.In addition, all mandatory volunteer services and curricula imposed by correction facilities and detention centers taking place outside such facilities will become suspended indefinitely.

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Juvenie Center to Reduce Room Capacity

Originally published by Yeonhap News on 01/02/2020

Summary

The South Korean Ministry of Justice has ordered juvenile detention centers nationwide to reduce the room capacity from 10 inmates to 4 inmates. It is also in the process of inspecting facilities and has ordered that certain facilities become renovated to accommodate for more inmates in compliance with the new capacity requirements.

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Juvenie Center to Reduce Room Capacity

Originally published by Yeonhap News on 01/02/2020

Summary

The South Korean Ministry of Justice has ordered juvenile detention centers nationwide to reduce the room capacity from 10 inmates to 4 inmates. It is also in the process of inspecting facilities and has ordered that certain facilities become renovated to accommodate for more inmates in compliance with the new capacity requirements.

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