Human rights groups in Taiwan have launched a petition to oppose draft legislation proposed by the Ministry of Justice that seeks to eliminate parole eligibility for individuals convicted of murder, attempted murder, or fatal child abuse. This legislative proposal, submitted on October 30, 2025, has sparked considerable debate, particularly among legal professionals and human rights advocates. The groups argue that such a policy would lead to inhumane treatment and could significantly increase incarceration rates, as detailed in a report from JURIST.
Public outrage over the “Kai-Kai case,” a tragic 2023 incident where two babysitters killed a one-year-old, has influenced the draft. This case incited mass protests in Taipei in 2025, with demonstrators demanding more stringent criminal policies, particularly against violence towards children. This has led the government to reflect on Taiwan’s history of using parole policy as a tool for crime control, a method that intensified after high-profile murder cases in the 1990s.
The legislative proposal would modify Section 77 of the Criminal Code, continuing a trend of tightening parole policies since the early 2000s, when the government reduced parole approval rates and increased requirements for life sentence inmates. Such actions were part of a broader effort to address public security concerns by concentrating on recidivism prevention and managing societal risks.
However, the proposal has met with opposition from advocacy groups who emphasize the ethical implications of life sentences without parole, which they argue deny individuals dignity and the possibility of rehabilitation. A 2024 Constitutional Judgment, particularly a concurring opinion by Judge Yue Bo-xiang, highlighted that this approach essentially ostracizes individuals from society, contradicting the rehabilitative aims of the parole system.
These groups also express concern about the potential for mass incarceration leading to crowded facilities, thus straining resources and risking the stability of the prison system. They argue that the proposal lacks empirical support and that existing parole regulations, already stringent since 2005 reforms, do not warrant further tightening.
The debate underscores the challenge of balancing public safety with human rights concerns. While Taiwan’s society urges stronger action against violent crimes, critics caution against “populist punitiveness,” which may favor punitive measures over evidence-based policies that address underlying social issues. Such measures could inadvertently empower the state to permanently exclude certain individuals from the community, posing broader ethical and social questions about the kind of community Taiwan aspires to be.