An Epitome of Corrections and Penal Practices in Taiwan: Trends from the 2010s

• In Event: Exploring Recent Trends in Crime and Punishment

Abstract

Understanding the trends and institutional practices of incarcerated populations is critical for partitioners, stakeholders, and policymakers to provide fair, just, and humane treatments to inmates. The correctional system in Taiwan, like their western counterparts and other jurisdictions worldwide, has encountered emerging challenges stemming from issues such as prison crowding, the demand for special needs for inmates, unbalanced penal goals, and human rights concerns. Yet, only a handful of studies probe Taiwanese incarceration and penal policies from a trend perspective. This study utilizes both published and unpublished official data and literature to systematically examine the substantial changes and features in Taiwanese corrections from 2012 to 2022. In particular, this study gauges how intuitional and evidence-based practices changed over time to respond to issues toward general and special prison populations from correctional and legal perspectives. Policy implications are also presented for addressing future corrections in Taiwan.

Authors

• Yu-Heng Chen, Temple University

• Wan Huang, East China University of Science and Technology

• Ming-Li Hsieh, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

• E. Rely Vîlcică, Temple University