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| ▲ This photo shows the National Human Rights Commission. (Yonhap) |
inmate death-rights watchdog
Rights watchdog recommends inspection of prison 'protection rooms' after inmate's death
SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Yonhap) -- The state human rights watchdog recommended Tuesday that the justice ministry inspect "protection rooms" in correctional facilities nationwide after an inmate, placed in one of such rooms for violent behavior, died in March due to suspected neglect.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued the recommendation following its investigation into the death of an inmate in late March while detained in a prison protection room.
A prison protection room is a space where inmates are separately accommodated for special attention due to risks of suicide, self-harm or illness.
The correction facility in question claimed the inmate was sent to a protection room after showing aggression toward another inmate and injuring an official who was trying to control the inmate's behavior.
The watchdog's investigation, however, found that the preliminary medical checkup required for protection room admittance was insufficiently conducted on the inmate and the inmate's call for help from the protection room before his death went unanswered.
The watchdog also concluded that the inmate was unnecessarily placed in a protection room, noting the inmate's lack of attempted suicide or self-harm records and the fact that he was about 60 days away from discharge.
The NHRC recommended that the justice minister conduct an inspection of prison protection rooms nationwide to prevent a similar death.
The commission concluded that the dead inmate's personal liberty and dignity were excessively restricted by the use of three types of physical restraint gear, which should have been applied minimally in limited circumstances.
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