Summer Reading Group | Key Readers for Prison External Inspection Reports, We Need You!

Inmates are simply citizens wearing "prison uniforms," not "outcasts" stripped of their constitutional fundamental rights.

~ Concurring Opinion to Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 755, Grand Justice Hsu Tzong-li

The Grand Justices declared that inmates enjoy the same protection of fundamental constitutional rights; however, this should not merely be a slogan. Inmates are individuals deprived of their liberty due to criminal offenses, and following such deprivation, their daily lives are virtually in the hands of the state, leaving them with little autonomy over their destiny. Furthermore, the high walls of correctional institutions not only physically isolate inmates, making the lives of those inside invisible to society, but also prevent the outside world from knowing the various problems and difficulties occurring within. If we hope that the protection of inmates' fundamental rights is more than just a slogan, relevant rights protection mechanisms must be established.

The newly amended Prison Act was promulgated and implemented in 2020. One of its key focal points is the establishment of independent external inspection committees in each correctional institution. The conception of this system is to make correctional institutions as transparent as possible, on one hand reducing the occurrence of human rights violations, and on the other allowing the outside world to better understand whether these institutions are facing any problems or difficulties, thereby creating an opportunity for improvement by directly confronting these matters. To implement the principle of transparency, the new Prison Act requires prison external inspection committees to submit reports so that the outside world can gain a better understanding of the actual conditions in prisons and examine the operation of this external inspection mechanism.

The Judicial Reform Foundation has consistently monitored the operation of prison external inspections following the implementation of the new law. We have read and provided commentary on the inaugural reports from all prison external inspection committees. In November 2022, the prison external inspection committees underwent a transition; the second term of external inspection committees took office and has since successively issued 6 quarters of inspection reports.

We invite friends who care about prison issues and wish to contribute to read the inspection reports of various prison external inspection committees. Ultimately, we will compile everyone's insights and questions to submit to the respective prison external inspection committees. Depending on participants' inquiries, we may invite rehabilitated individuals, practitioners, or external inspection committee members to share their experiences, or arrange prison visits.

Online Registration

Time

• 06/29 (Sat.) 10:00 AM Online Briefing Session
• Saturdays from June to August at 10:00 AM for a series of reading group sessions (7/6 (Sat.), 7/13 (Sat.), 7/20 (Sat.), 7/27 (Sat.), 8/3 (Sat.), 8/10 (Sat.), 8/17 (Sat.), 8/24 (Sat.))
• If a speaker is invited that week, the end time may be extended
  ※ Sessions will pause once the inspection reports are finished reading and resume when new reports are published

Format

Exclusively online, no physical meetings

Eligibility

Individuals who care about prison issues and possess a curious, inquiry-driven mind.

Recruitment Capacity

6 participants (if applications exceed capacity, selection will favor those able to commit to full participation and showing higher motivation)

Content

• Read external inspection reports from various prisons. Finally, compile everyone's insights and questions to submit to the respective prison external inspection committees.
• Depending on participants' inquiries, we may invite rehabilitated individuals, practitioners, or external inspection committee members to share their experiences, or arrange prison visits.

※ This reading activity for prison external inspection reports is co-organized by the Judicial Reform Foundation and the "Glimmer in the Dark - Prison External Inspection Report Reading Project & Death Row Inmates Correspondence Project" under the University Social Responsibility Practice Project hosted by Professor Lu Ying-chieh of National Chung Cheng University.