The number of mentally ill criminals who have committed felonies such as murder is expected to rise to 2,000 this year, said a government report released on Monday.

According to the report by the National Police Agency, there are 1,879 mentally ill criminals, causing worry as their tendency to become repeat offenders is higher than that of the average criminal.

Submitted to the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, the report also stated that the number is expected to reach 2,000 this year, as there have already been 1,500 mentally ill criminals convicted as of August.

There were 1,841 cases in 2008, which rose to 1,984 in 2009.

Considering that there were 485 mentally ill criminals and another 3,335 suffering from mental disorders in 2010, the portion of criminals with some form of mental instability was high.

Of their crimes, assault was the most common category, followed by larceny.

The possibility of mentally ill criminals becoming repeat offenders was higher than the norm as well, with 32.1 percent versus 24.3 percent, respectively.

Arson had the highest incidence of repeat offences by the mentally ill followed by murder and assault.

Another government report also found that prosecutors’ requests that child rapists be issued ankle monitors were being dismissed at an increasing rate by the court.

The rate of dismissal was 12.4 percent in 2009, 24.5 percent in 2010 and 43.8 percent this year.

In 2010, 29.8 percent of those convicted of rape and sexual molestation of children were not required to wear ankle monitors.

“The recent film ‘Dogani’ has caused a public uproar regarding sex crimes against adolescents or disabled children and the weighing of such offenses,” said Grand National Party Rep. Lee Jung-hyun, who received the report.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)