Members of the legal press corps wear inmate uniforms and take part in a firsthand simulation of an inmate’s daily routine during an inspection at Anyang Prison in Gyeonggi, on April 15. [MINISTRY OF JUSTICE]
The Ministry of Justice on Tuesday defended its plan to install air conditioning in correctional facilities, calling it "the very least they could do to protect the lives and physical safety of inmates vulnerable to extreme heat," after the plan drew public backlash.
The ministry has allocated 1.2 billion won ($791,400) this year to upgrade cooling systems in prisons, per local reports on Sunday. Some are questioning whether taxpayer money should be spent on air conditioning for convicted criminals.
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“We are reinforcing cooling facilities primarily in prison housing units that accommodate inmates vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, including the elderly, people with disabilities and patients," the ministry said in a statement. "Some women’s housing units have also been included in the reinforcement plan after comprehensively considering overcrowding levels, physical characteristics and overall detention conditions.
