By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
The Constitutional Court ruled Friday that running surveillance cameras around the clock in solitary confinement cells in prison is constitutional, turning down a petition filed by inmates at Cheongsong Correction Institution in North Gyeongsang Province.
Inmates who are in the institution's solitary cells lodged the petition, alleging the 24-hour surveillance cameras infringed upon personal liberty and private life.
In the ruling, the court said: ``There is no rule allowing the installation of surveillance cameras inside prison. But it's acceptable when close monitoring is necessary to rehabilitate prisoners. Monitoring of inmates who committed crimes repeatedly is especially justifiable.''
The court added the cameras are extra ``eyes'' in correctional institutions.