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

• In Event: Historical Perspectives on Crime and Punishment

Abstract

Agency records and administrative data have been widely used in criminal justice research and cross-national comparisons. However, no studies have systematically used official correctional data to examine relevant issues in Taiwan. To address this research gap, we use three primary administrative data sources in Taiwan—Statistics of Justice, along with unpublished data approved by the Agency of Corrections, to analyze trends in overall and special correctional populations, prison release, and key correctional policies over the past decade. To complement this, based on agency reports and documents, we also highlight other significant recent developments in institutional corrections in Taiwan. The paper provides directions for future research and policy implications for improving the use of agency records and administrative data, aiming to enhance efficiency and transparency in Taiwan’s correctional system, which can help Taiwan correctional system serve as a baseline for comparisons with other regions in Greater China and globally.

Authors

• Yu-Heng Chen, Temple University

• Wan Huang, East China University

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

• E. Rely Vilcica, Temple University