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英文 English 

Recent suicide of prison hostage-takers highlights problems with three-strikes law (2015/02/13)

This week’s hostage-taking incident at a Kaohsiung prison has highlighted problems in Taiwan’s criminal justice system. Among the issues cited by reformers is a “three-strikes” law that eliminates the possibility of parole for repeat offenders convicted of a crime carrying at least a five-year sentence. The reformers believe this law leaves inmates feeling a sense of helplessness that could breed violence. 

The six inmates who participated in the prison hostage standoff ultimately opted to commit suicide rather than stay in jail. From their requests, we can see that the “three strikes law,” which withheld the possibility of parole, was cited as one of the reasons behind their decision to end their lives.

Joseph Lin 
Judicial Reform Foundation 
It’s true they should be incarcerated, but we should see if there is the possibility to reform a person. We should realize that if these criminals never have the chance to return to society that it doesn’t do us any good.

The “three-strikes law" is based on a practice imposed in California, where habitual offenders receive harsh sentences. 

Chen Hui-min
Prison Concern Panel Member
For those in prison, the most important factor is the opportunity to be released. This is their only hope.

Justice Minister Luo Ying-shay says reducing felony recidivism would ease pressure on the prison system, though at the moment the general public won’t support laws allowing criminals to walk the streets.

中文 Chinese  

"三振法案"不假釋 受刑人沒希望?

一場監獄暴動、挾持人質的事件，也突顯出司法制度的問題！刑法在民國95年修改後，採取的「三振法案」，規定三犯受刑人，沒有假釋的機會，民間團體認為，如果法令不修改，受刑人感覺不到希望，類似的事件，恐怕還會發生。

6名挾持人質的受刑人，寧可飲彈自盡，也不願意繼續留在監獄裡，從他們的訴求當中，可以看出讓重罪受刑人假釋無望的”三振法案”，是主要原因之一。

[[司改會董事長 林永頌]]
“他被關是應該的話，也應該讓看看有沒有機會能夠改變他，我們這個社會，如果讓這些犯罪的人，永遠不能再回到正常的社會，其實對我們不是更好”

「三振法案」是參照美國加州的做法，加重重罪累犯的判刑。

[[監所關注小組成員 陳惠敏]]
“對監所裡面的人來說，最關鍵的一個因素是說，他有沒有機會出去，是他唯一的希望”

對此，法務部長羅瑩雪表示，少關重罪累犯，可以減輕監所壓力，但壓力卻轉嫁到社會治安，社會大眾不會贊成修法。