The Mingde Minimum-Security Prison warden Tu Tsung-tien has been transferred from his current post after two police offers were murdered by one of its inmates.
The Tainan police murder case has aroused outside attention that the minimum-security prison system is too loose. The family members of the deceased police officers criticized the Mingde Minimum-Security Prison for dereliction of duty. Minister of Justice Tsai Ching-hsiang personally stated on the 26th that he instructed the Corrections Agency to investigate and transfer prison warden Tu Tsung-tien from his current post. As for the issue of no immediate arrest of the escapee, he ordered the High Prosecutors Office to investigate the reason for the Tainan District Prosecutors Office's delay and attribution of responsibility.
Tsai Ching-hsiang, Minister of Justice: “Mingde Minimum-Security Prison's warden has been transferred from his current post and awaits investigation. The Tainan District Prosecutors Office has issued a review detailing the reasons for the delayed issue of the arrest.”
Tsai said that his ministry will increase its supervision of minimum-security prisoners returning home to visit relatives through video tracking. If a prisoner escapes, the MOJ will immediately notify the police to assist in the search. Prisons need to report to prosecutors within two hours of the escape to issue a wanted search.
Tsai Ching-hsiang, Minister of Justice: “Within two hours, you must report to prosecutors to issue a wanted arrest.”
The MOJ has invited experts and scholars to study regulation amendments on minimum-security prisons. The current direction includes raising the selection threshold, strengthening the assessment of inmates, clarifying selection conditions, and excluding major violent crimes. However, the MOJ has not clearly defined violent crimes yet.
Tseng Ming-chung, KMT Legislative Caucus Whip: “I'm in favor of being stricter in general. In the past, prisoner escapes of seven days weren't reported and no wanted arrest was issued. I'm afraid the MOJ will have to study further whether two hours is feasible.”
Liu Shyh-fang, Legislator (DPP): “Minimum-security prison regulations are being reviewed. We want to do a better job of execution to make people outside feel more at ease.”
The KMT believes that the time for issuing the wanted notice can be shortened. It also criticizes minimum-security prison regulations that allow repeat offenders to apply for minimum-security prisons. It calls on the ruling and opposition parties to revise the law. Legislator Liu Shyh-fang pointed out that the Tainan police murder case highlights that there are indeed deficiencies in law enforcement units, which need to be reviewed. As for the minimum-security prison system, the DPP will conduct a comprehensive review in the next legislative session.
台南殺警案引起外界關注外役監制度過於鬆散，殉職員警家屬痛批明德外役監怠忽職守，典獄長杜聰典欺上瞞下。對此，法務部長蔡清祥今日親上火線回應，針對外役監脫逃，責成矯正署調查，將杜聰典調離現職，至於沒有立即通緝問題，下令高檢署查明台南地檢署的遲延原因以及責任歸屬。
法務部長蔡清祥表示：「明德外役監典獄長要調離現職，靜候調查，那有關遲延通緝的部分，台南地檢署提出報告，那檢討原因。」
蔡清祥表示，會嚴加督導考核外役監返家探親，透過視訊追蹤，若受刑人脫逃，要求監所立即通知警方協尋，2小時內要報請檢方發布通緝。
法務部長蔡清祥表示：「2個小時內要報請檢察機關發布通緝。」
此外，法務部邀集專家學者，研擬外役監條例修正，目前修法方向，包括「提高遴選門檻、強化在監考核、明確化遴選條件、排除重大暴力犯罪」。不過，對於重大暴力犯罪，法務部至今沒有明確定義。
國民黨團總召曾銘宗表示：「大方向我贊成比較嚴一點，那以前7天也沒講，也沒有通緝，搞成2個小時，可不可行，恐怕法務部要進一步研議。」
民進黨立委劉世芳表示：「外役監條例在處理，所謂外役監人犯的時候，怎麼樣把執行面做好一點，讓外界的人更寬心。」
國民黨團認為，發布通緝的時間可以再縮短，也指控外役監條例讓累犯也能申請外役監，呼籲朝野政黨再次修法。劉世芳指出，台南殺警案凸顯執法單位的確有缺失，需要檢討，至於外役監制度，民進黨團下個會期會全面檢討。
