The number of mentally ill criminals who have committed felonies such as murder and 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, 1879 mentally ill people were convicted of a crime in 2010. The report noted that their tendency to become repeat offenders was higher than average.

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, and 1,984 in 2009.

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

The possibility of mentally ill criminals becoming repeat offenders was 32.1 percent, higher than the average of 24.3 percent.

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.

There were 485 mentally disabled criminals and another 3,335 with other mental disorders in 2010.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)