TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Legislative Yuan (立法院), the island's parliament, reviewed a controversial Criminal Code (刑法) amendment Wednesday (Aug. 27) targeting parole restrictions for life sentences amid growing public safety concerns. Justice Minister Tseng Ming-chien (鄭銘謙) endorsed the committee's proposal to deny parole for serious offenders following recent high-profile reoffending cases. The legislative review reflects mounting parental anxiety over child abuse offenders returning to communities after serving reduced sentences.
Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) legislator Wu Tsung-hsien (吳宗憲) referenced May public hearings addressing these concerns and pledged additional sessions if necessary to advance legislation. Wu proposed an innovative three-tier life sentence framework to address varying crime severity levels. The system would establish life imprisonment without parole as the harshest tier, parole eligibility after 40 years for the second tier, and maintain the current 25-year standard for lesser offenses.
Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) challenged current life sentence effectiveness, citing statistics showing 657 life-sentenced inmates received parole between 2013 and 2022 after serving just 17.9 years on average. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) endorsed life imprisonment principles while cautioning against rushed legislative changes. Wu emphasized the necessity for comprehensive amendments accompanied by robust supporting measures and institutional reforms.
Judicial Yuan (司法院), Taiwan's highest judicial authority, Deputy Secretary-General Wang Mei-ying (王梅英) advocated for comprehensive Criminal Code and special criminal law amendments to resolve sentencing disparities under the proposed tiered framework. Wu Tsung-hsien committed to accelerating the legislative review process through expedited public hearings and committee deliberations. The legislator aims to advance the controversial amendment despite complex legal and procedural challenges ahead. ◼
