Korean Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Income-Based Fines

Abstract

Several European countries use income-based fines (i.e., day, unit, or structured fines). Under this system, a judge imposes a fine based on the offense’s seriousness and the offender’s income. Proponents argue that income-based fines promote equality in punishment and reduce unnecessary imprisonment resulting from fine defaults. However, opponents argue that income-based fines lead to inequality in punishment and are challenging to implement due to problems accessing an offender’s assets. Based on these arguments, this study uses the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice survey to explore Koreans’ attitudes and factors relevant to supporting income-based fines (n = 1,063). The findings suggest that most respondents support income-based fines, primarily because income-based fines enhance punishment equality by accounting for or incorporating one’s financial status.

Plain Language Summary

Korean People’s Thinking About Fine According to Offenders’ Income

Several European countries set fines according to offenders’ income. People who support the new fine system argue that it increases fairness because it considers an offender’s income when determining the fine. However, other people suggest that the new fine system is unfair to the rich because the rich pay a higher fine than the poor for committing the same crime. Therefore, this research examined Korean people’s thinking about the fine according to an offender’s income using a survey of 1,063 adults. The findings suggest that most Koreans support the new fines, primarily because they believe that the fine system brings punishment fairness by considering one’s financial capability.