According to an investigation on the circumstances and available facilities for inmates with disabilities by the NHRCK, the human rights of inmates with disabilities are stymied by aging and crowded facilities whose occupancy rates are over 185%. In addition, in the absence of sufficient facilities including corridor rails and braille bloc, inmates with disabilities are exposed to potential dangers. In this regard, the NHRCK recommended that the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Strategy and Finance tackle this problem in a prompt manner and allocate sufficient funds to address the issues of inmates with disabilities.
In detail, the NHRCK urged the Minister of Justice to provide more facilities for inmates with disabilities, to allocate newly-built facilities and to provide them with enough hot water to maintain their body temperature. In addition, it was advised that the MOJ prepare criteria regarding appropriate capacities of each room in relation to inmates with disabilities. At the same time, the Minister of Strategy and Finance was advised to appropriate sufficient funds for the Ministry of Justice to realize the recommendations by the NHRCK.
The US has been taking necessary steps to tackle the problem of overcrowded facilities since the US Federal Court ordered States to correct this problem. The Korean government, however, still has not established criteria to estimate appropriate capacities of rooms in relation to inmates with disabilities.
Amid these problems, however, a positive action was taken by Hallym University to cancel its previous decision to decline an applicant with brain lesion disorder to a doctoral progamme in its history department and to review the application. Moreover, Hallym University decided to amend the bylaws of its graduate schools to appropriately and fairly consider persons with disabilities in the admission process.
