2026 Judicial Reform Thesis and Dissertation Grant Program

Approved by the Standing Executive Committee of the Judicial Reform Foundation on January 5, 2025

I. Program Objectives

To promote judicial reform, strengthen policy research capacity, and cultivate talent, the Judicial Reform Foundation (hereinafter referred to as "the Foundation") has established the "Judicial Reform Thesis and Dissertation Grant Regulations." Through the awarding of grants, sponsorship of printing and publication, and organization of paper presentations, the Foundation encourages the academic community to conduct research on issues related to judicial reform.

II. Applicants and Grant Amounts

To encourage research and ensure fairness in the review process, this grant program accepts applications only for theses, dissertations, and independent papers that have not yet been completed.

1. Doctoral Dissertations Grant amount: NT$80,000 in total. Upon successful completion of the first-stage research proposal review, a grant of NT$20,000 will be awarded. Upon successful completion of the second-stage final manuscript review, a grant of NT$60,000 will be awarded.
   
2. Master's Theses Grant amount: NT$50,000 in total. Upon successful completion of the first-stage research proposal review, a grant of NT$10,000 will be awarded. Upon successful completion of the second-stage final manuscript review, a grant of NT$40,000 will be awarded.
   
3. Independent Papers Grant amount: NT$30,000 to NT$80,000 in total. Upon successful completion of the first-stage research proposal review, a grant of NT$10,000 to NT$20,000 will be awarded. Upon successful completion of the second-stage final manuscript review, a grant of NT$20,000 to NT$70,000 will be awarded. Independent papers must contain at least 20,000 Chinese characters, and the amount of each grant shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Thesis and Dissertation Review Committee based on the research proposal and final manuscript.
   

III. Research Topics

Funded papers must focus on issues related to judicial reform, including but not limited to the academic fields of law, political science, sociology, forensic science, legal education, and international human rights conventions.

The priority research topics for 2026 are as follows:

1. Research Related to Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure:
   • Research on strengthening fact-finding in criminal proceedings
     
   • Research on citizen participation in criminal trialsIn addition to legal theory, institutional implementation, and empirical research concerning the Citizen Judges Act, this category includes, but is not limited to, research in sociology, education, psychology, and other fields related to the citizen judge system.
     
   • Research on technology-assisted investigationsResearch related to the "Special Compulsory Measures" chapter of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
     
   • Research on mechanisms for remedying wrongful convictionsIncluding, but not limited to, research on Criminal Cases Review Commissions (CCRCs), the Review Committee for Final Convictions of the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, retrial proceedings, and extraordinary appeals.
     
   • Research on correctional institution reformIncluding, but not limited to, research on external prison inspection systems, juvenile correctional education, and voting rights for incarcerated persons.
     
   • Research on the criminal justice treatment of persons with mental disabilitiesIncluding, but not limited to, research on provisional placement, custodial measures, forensic psychiatric hospitals, and related issues.
     
   • Research on criminal compensation systemsIncluding, but not limited to, empirical and legal research using the "Taiwan Criminal Compensation Recipients Case Database" published by the Foundation.
     
2. Empirical Research on the Death Penalty SystemIncluding, but not limited to, research concerning Constitutional Court Judgment No. 8 of 2024 (Death Penalty Case) and related legislative amendments.
   
3. Empirical or Comparative Law Research on Constitutional Litigation
   
4. Research on Strengthening Fact-Finding in Civil ProceedingsIncluding, but not limited to, research on reform of the civil expert evidence system and review of rules of evidence.
   
5. Research on the Judicial System:
   • Research on alleviating the judicial workloadIncluding, but not limited to, research on revitalizing and reallocating judicial human resources, adjusting prosecutorial powers and responsibilities, and improving litigation procedures or workflows.
     
   • Research on judicial accountabilityIncluding, but not limited to, research on evaluation systems for judges and prosecutors and on strengthening the effectiveness of administrative supervision by heads of judicial institutions.
     
   • Research on the use of artificial intelligence in the exercise of public authorityResearch concerning the legitimacy of using artificial intelligence in litigation procedures, law enforcement, administrative dispositions, and other exercises of public authority, as well as the development of supporting mechanisms and human rights impact assessments.
     
6. Research on the Attorney SystemIncluding, but not limited to, research on establishing professional certification systems for attorneys, improving public access to legal services, and strengthening attorney ethics, professional discipline, and disciplinary systems; as well as historical, sociological, political, or other interdisciplinary research on attorneys, as members of the legal profession, participating in public policy and rule-of-law collaboration.
   
7. Research on the Protection of Crime Victims' Rights and Related Legal FrameworksIncluding, but not limited to, research on compensation systems, protection organizations and services, and participation in legal proceedings under the Crime Victim Rights Protection Act.
   
8. Research on Improving the Quality of Forensic ScienceIncluding, but not limited to, research on the development of professional standards and standard operating procedures in forensic science disciplines by the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) in the United States, as well as research on the establishment and adjustment of related systems in Taiwan.
   
9. Research on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Mental DisabilitiesIncluding, but not limited to, research on issues arising from the 2022 amendments to the Mental Health Act and on how the corresponding implementing and subordinate regulations should be formulated.
   
10. Other research related to the 2026 Judicial Reform Blueprint published by the Judicial Reform Foundation.
    

IV. Application Procedure

1. Application Period: Monday, June 1, 2026, to Friday, July 31, 2026.
   
2. Application Documents
   (Please download the application form at the bottom of this page.)
   • Application Form
   • Thesis, Dissertation, or Independent Paper Research Proposal
   • Recommendation Letter from an Advisor, Scholar, or Expert
     
3. Please send electronic copies of the application documents by email with the subject line "Application for the 2026 Judicial Reform Thesis and Dissertation Grant Program" to pbz@jrf.org.tw.Recipient: Pan BeizhenTelephone: 02-2523-1178 ext. 16After submitting the application documents, please call to confirm receipt.
   

V. Review Method

(Please refer to Appendix 2, "Judicial Reform Thesis and Dissertation Grant Regulations," for details.)

1. The first-stage review conducted by the Thesis and Dissertation Review Committee consists of a preliminary written review followed by an oral review. The list of successful applicants will be announced, and the first-stage grants awarded, by October 1 of each year.
   
2. Applicants who pass the first-stage review must submit the final manuscript within the following periods:(1) Doctoral dissertations: Three years.(2) Master's theses: Two years.(3) Independent papers: One to three years, to be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Thesis and Dissertation Review Committee according to the submission schedule set out in the research proposal.The submission period begins on October 1 of the year in which the applicant is selected. Applicants who fail to submit the final manuscript by the applicable deadline will lose their eligibility to apply for the second-stage review.Applicants may submit a written request stating the reasons for an extension of the submission deadline. An extension may not exceed one year and may be granted only once.
   
3. The second-stage review conducted by the Thesis and Dissertation Review Committee consists of external review and final review. The list of applicants who pass the second-stage review will be announced, and the corresponding grants awarded, by January 11 of each year.
   

VI. Rights and Obligations

(Please refer to Appendix 2, "Judicial Reform Thesis and Dissertation Grant Regulations," for details.)

1. Recipients may not use the same thesis, dissertation, or independent paper to apply for awards, grants, or subsidies from other government agencies or civil society organizations. In the event of a violation of the prohibition against duplicate funding, the recipient's eligibility for the grant will be revoked, and all grant funds already received must be repaid in full.
   
2. Applicants must ensure that the contents of their thesis, dissertation, or independent paper do not involve plagiarism, unauthorized adaptation, infringement, or any other violation of academic ethics or copyright laws and regulations. In the event of unlawful infringement, the recipient's eligibility for the grant will be revoked, and all grant funds already received must be repaid in full.
   
3. When an awarded thesis, dissertation, or independent paper is officially published, the following acknowledgment must appear on the first page:"This work was supported by a grant from the Judicial Reform Foundation, which is hereby gratefully acknowledged."
   
4. Recipients must agree to grant the Foundation, royalty-free and without restrictions as to territory, duration, or means, the rights to publicly display, exhibit, and transmit the entire contents of the awarded work.
   

VII. Other Incentives

The Foundation may provide recipients with additional forms of recognition, including public commendations, opportunities to present their papers, or other activities. The Foundation may also promote awarded works by sponsoring printing costs, publishing books or monographs, or through other means. The forms of recognition and methods of promotion shall be determined by the Thesis and Dissertation Review Committee.

Related Document Downloads

1. 2026 Judicial Reform Thesis and Dissertation Grant Program (including application form)
2. Judicial Reform Thesis and Dissertation Grant Regulations