2023 Judicial Reform Thesis Grant Program

1. Program Objectives

   In order to promote judicial reform, guide policy research capacity, and cultivate talent, the Judicial Reform Foundation (hereinafter referred to as "the Foundation") has formulated the "Judicial Reform Thesis Grant Regulations." By awarding grants, subsidizing printing and publication, and holding thesis presentations, we encourage the academic community to engage in research on judicial reform issues.

2. Target Applicants and Grant Amounts

   To encourage research and ensure fairness in the evaluation process, this grant program only accepts applications for unfinished theses.
   1. Doctoral dissertations: NT$80,000 in total. After passing the first-stage research proposal review, a grant of NT$30,000 will be awarded. After passing the second-stage completed thesis review, a grant of NT$50,000 will be awarded.
   2. Master's theses: NT$50,000 in total. After passing the first-stage research proposal review, a grant of NT$20,000 will be awarded. After passing the second-stage completed thesis review, a grant of NT$30,000 will be awarded.
   3. Independent theses: NT$30,000 to NT$80,000 in total. After passing the first-stage research proposal review, a grant of NT$10,000 to NT$30,000 will be awarded. After passing the second-stage completed thesis review, a grant of NT$20,000 to NT$70,000 will be awarded. Independent theses must be at least 20,000 words, and the grant amount will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Thesis Review Committee depending on the research proposal and the completed thesis.

3. Research Topics

   Grant theses must focus on issues related to judicial reform, including but not limited to academic fields such as law, political science, sociology, forensic science, rule-of-law education, and human rights conventions. The priority grant topics for 2023 are as follows:

   1. Research on Criminal Trials and Disposition:

      • Research on criminal litigation systems strengthening fact-finding trials
      • Research on citizen participation in criminal trials. In addition to legal theory, implementation, and empirical research on the Citizen Judges Act system, this also includes research in various fields such as sociology, education, and psychology related to this system.
      • Research on technological investigation, including investigative methods, legislative policy, and comparative law regarding the Ministry of Justice's draft "Technological Investigation Act."
      • Research on miscarriage of justice rescue systems, including the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) or the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office Conviction Review Committee, and the review of retrial or extraordinary appeal systems.
      • Research on correctional institution reform, including external prison inspection systems, juvenile correctional education, and inmates' voting rights.
      • Research on the criminal disposition of persons with psychosocial disabilities, including provisional placement, custodial disposition, and forensic psychiatric hospitals.

   2. Research on civil litigation systems strengthening fact-finding trials, including the reform of civil expert witness systems and the review of rules of evidence.

   3. Research on the Judicial System:

      • Research on reducing judicial burden, including revitalizing and redeploying judicial manpower, adjusting prosecutors' powers and responsibilities, and improving litigation procedures or workflows.
      • Research on judicial accountability, including the evaluation systems for judges or prosecutors.

   4. Research on the protection of rights and legal systems for crime victims, including compensation systems, protective organizations, and litigation participation under the 2023 Crime Victim Rights Protection Act.

   5. Institutional research on enhancing the quality of forensic science, including research on the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) in the United States establishing professional standards for forensic science, and the establishment and adjustment of related domestic systems.

   6. Research on the protection of rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities, including research on related issues following the 2022 amendment to the Mental Health Act, and how its supplementary subordinate legislation should be formulated.

4. Application Procedures

   1. Application period: June 1 to July 31, 2023.
   2. Application documents: Application form, thesis research proposal, and recommendation letter from an advisor or a scholar/expert. Please download the document format from the application form at the bottom of the page.
   3. Please send the electronic files of the application documents via email with the subject "2023 Judicial Reform Thesis Grant Program Application" to hwei@jrf.org.tw. Recipient: Huang Chün-wei, Assistant Researcher. Phone: 02-25231178*27. After submitting your application documents, please call to confirm. Starting August 1, 2023, the contact person will be changed to: Pan Pei-chen, 02-25231178 ext. 16, pbz@jrf.org.tw.

5. Review Procedures

   1. The first-stage review by the Thesis Review Committee is divided into a written preliminary review and an oral secondary review. The list of accepted applicants will be announced, and grants will be awarded before October 1 each year.
   2. Applicants accepted in the first-stage review must submit their completed thesis within the following deadlines:
      (1) Doctoral dissertations: Three years.
      (2) Master's theses: Two years.
      (3) Independent theses: One to three years, determined on a case-by-case basis by the Thesis Review Committee according to the submission schedule in the research proposal.
      The deadline begins on October 1 of the year of acceptance. Failure to submit the thesis within the deadline will result in the loss of eligibility for the second-stage review.
      Applicants may apply in writing with stated reasons for an extension of the thesis submission deadline. The extension period shall not exceed one year and may only be applied for once.
   3. The second-stage review by the Thesis Review Committee is divided into external review and final review. The list of those passing the second-stage review will be announced, and grants will be awarded before January 11 each year.

6. Rights and Obligations

   1. Award recipients shall not apply for awards, grants, or subsidies from other government agencies or social organizations using the same thesis. In the event of a violation of the prohibition on duplicate grants, the applicant's recipient qualification will be canceled, and the full amount of the grant received must be returned.
   2. Applicants must ensure that their thesis content does not involve plagiarism, adaptation, infringement, or other violations of academic ethics or copyright-related regulations. In the event of illegal infringement, the applicant's recipient qualification will be canceled, and the grant received must be returned in full.
   3. When the awarded thesis is officially published, the first page must state: "This work was supported by a grant from the Judicial Reform Foundation, which is hereby acknowledged."
   4. Award recipients must agree to gratuitously grant the Foundation the right to publicly display, exhibit, and transmit all contents of their thesis work without limitation on territory, time, or method.

7. Other Awards

   The Foundation may additionally reward recipients by holding public commendations, arranging thesis presentations, or other activities, and may subsidize thesis printing costs, publish specialized books or monographs, or promote the awarded thesis through other means. Award activities and promotion methods shall be decided by the Thesis Review Committee.

Related Document Downloads

1. 2023 Judicial Reform Thesis Grant Program Application Form
2. 2023 Judicial Reform Thesis Grant Program
3. Judicial Reform Thesis Grant Regulations