A Study on Stalking Crimes and Therapeutic Police Activities

Stalking is a crime that causes physical and mental damage to individuals and causes great anxiety in society. Stalking crimes are difficult to prevent crimes with simple severe punishment because the behavior and psychology are complex due to the perpetrator's self-centered thinking, lack of empathy, schizophrenia or paranoia, borderline personality disorder, and distorted perception of reality. Therefore, more active intervention is needed by reviewing effective evaluation and treatment measures to prevent stalking crimes. If therapeutic elements are included in emergency measures and emergency measures under the current ｢Stalking Punishment Act｣, the police's therapeutic intervention can be strengthened from the stage before the injunction is issued under the ｢Stalking Punishment Act｣. This paper proposes therapeutic police activities that prevent stalking under the ｢Stalking Punishment Act｣, protect victims, and prevent perpetrators from committing crimes again. To this end, stalking behavior is recognized as a curable problem from a medical perspective, and the definition, purpose, and main elements of therapeutic police activities are established and the basis is presented accordingly. In order to obtain therapeutic effects on stalking crimes, the direction of therapeutic police activities is suggested by the role of the police as a supporter, integrated counseling, securing professional manpower, and expanding restorative police activities.