What I Saw and Heard During My Internship at the JRF

Photo / Interns visiting the Constitutional Court

During this internship, I was initially worried about not being able to fit in with the July interns, since they had already been there for a month. Aside from the two senior schoolmates from Soochow University, everyone else came from different schools. Because I started my internship in August, everything and everyone there was completely unfamiliar to me. I still remember how warmly everyone greeted me when I first arrived, asking for my name. Shortly after, people were calling out my name to make sure they wouldn't forget it, repeatedly double-checking if they got it right. At that moment, I was a bit startled. I originally thought it would take some time to blend in with them, but I never expected the JRF interns to be so lively and approachable. Seeing how well everyone interacted relieved my first concern. I had even worried a bit about what to do after the senior interns left... It turned out to be needless worry. Furthermore, the JRF staff were also very kind, and the entire office was filled with a warm and harmonious atmosphere. I really love this kind of work environment, where everyone is like brothers and sisters, eating together, working together, and holding meetings together...

I still remember when I was in the Non-Inquiry of Investigation group—there were five of us in total, and our daily task was to watch news broadcasts. At first, I found this group's work boring and really disliked it. But after watching the news for a few days, I gradually realized that this simple yet time-consuming work is actually quite important. The Regulations on the Non-Inquiry of Investigation are formulated pursuant to Paragraph 5, Article 245 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. These regulations serve to maintain the smooth conduct of investigation procedures, discover the truth, protect the reputation, privacy, and safety of defendants, suspects, victims, or other litigation participants, and ensure the defendant's right to a fair trial, thereby implementing the principle of presumption of innocence. Because of this, I gained a deeper understanding of the importance of the non-inquiry of investigation. Whenever we noticed certain news reports that might violate the regulations on the non-inquiry of investigation, we would each bring up points we identified for discussion and record them. I really like this model of group discussion, which instantly transformed dull and tedious work into something more meaningful and mission-driven. We often joked that now, whether outside or at home, whenever we see the news, we develop an "occupational disease," carefully scrutinizing whether it violates the regulations on the non-inquiry of investigation.

This internship was mainly divided into four groups. The number of people in each group varied, so interns didn't necessarily know everyone else. However, on August 5th, our supervisor assigned a major activity. He said we only had one week to prepare for an event on August 11th at the Huashan Creative Park—a human body character-forming event in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong. Because of the tight schedule, all the interns came over to support this grand event that week. Through this activity, we got to cross-group and get to know many partners we weren't familiar with before. During the cooperation process, there were no divides caused by being in different groups previously. This collaboration made all the interns even closer. Not only among the interns, but we also got to know the JRF staff and supervisors much better. Even though things were busy and complicated during the process, just thinking about having so many partners made me feel less scared about whether we could pull it off. Everyone did their utmost to prepare during the process. I still remember one intern who stayed up all night just to edit a video. That busy week just flew by, but I will always remember the drive and the emotional touching moment when everyone worked together. We were like a big family, and the atmosphere of helping and cooperating without distinction between you and me, or among groups, remains unforgettable to me.

From the first week until now, JRF supervisors have never told us what approach to take or how to complete a task when assigning them. They tend to let go and allow us the freedom to figure out how to finish them. During this process, when we racked our brains but the results didn't meet expectations, the supervisors wouldn't scold us; instead, they would teach us and guide us through completing the rest of the work. Director Hsu Yi-min often said, "You are here to learn; work alongside us, and you will know how to do it. Wanting to understand the JRF is also simple—the first step is to work along with us, and you will find out."

At the time, I didn't think too much about it, but looking back over this past month, I realize that many things aren't fully understood at first, but as you keep doing them, you gradually grasp the meaning and stories behind them. I am very grateful to the JRF for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to learn. Although the internship has ended, to me, what I gained from interning at the JRF for this month is meaningful, helpful, and something I can take away with me. For example, my perspective on things has become more multidimensional, and I will try to think about the same matter from different angles. Above all, what I admire the most is the spirit of the JRF—especially their persistence in judicial reform and their refusal to give up on any miscarriage of justice that might be rescued. I hope to carry this enthusiasm into my own future.