Construction of First Smart Prison Severely Delayed, Supervisory Yuan Censors Two Agencies

Taipei, April 16 (CNA) - The Supervisory Yuan stated that the construction of the first smart prison at the Badong Outer Prison has been severely delayed, with numerous acceptance defects and repeated unsuccessful improvement efforts. This situation not only fails to alleviate overcrowding in correctional facilities but also prevents it from becoming the first smart prison, hindering Taiwan's correctional and human rights image. Consequently, the Supervisory Yuan has censured the Ministry of Justice's Agency of Corrections and the Badong Outer Prison. According to a press release from the Supervisory Yuan, the Judicial and Prison Affairs Committee today approved an investigation report by Commissioners Wang Mei-yu, Chang Chu-fang, and Kuo Wen-tung, censuring the Ministry of Justice's Agency of Corrections and its subordinate Badong Outer Prison, and requesting the Ministry of Justice to review and improve. The three investigating commissioners pointed out that the Executive Yuan approved the 'Long-term Individual Project Plan for the New (Expansion) Construction of the Ministry of Justice's Agency of Corrections Badong Outer Prison' in August 2017, which was expected to alleviate overcrowding in northern correctional facilities. The total project budget was over NT$2.7 billion, originally scheduled from June 2017 to December 2022. After four plan revisions, the total budget increased to over NT$2.8 billion, and the schedule was extended to the end of May 2024. The commissioners mentioned that after the project was approved by the Executive Yuan in 2017, the Badong Outer Prison handled the 'Ministry of Justice's Agency of Corrections Badong Outer Prison New EPC Project.' However, the first and second phases, originally scheduled for completion in 2022, were only completed in March 2023 and October 2025, with delays of up to 365 days and 1073 days, respectively. The commissioners stated that as of January 2026, there were still 253 and 4846 defects, respectively. Furthermore, the fifth revision of this project's plan has not been approved for over 1 year and 8 months after the deadline set by the fourth revision's completion date of May 2024. The Badong Outer Prison conducted initial and partial acceptance of the first phase in two instances in 2023, with 2279 and 774 defects, respectively. By July 28, 2025, after more than two years and 17 re-inspections, 16 defects remained. Additionally, the commissioners explained that the phased inspection of the second phase from August 2025 to January 2026 also had 5400 defects, with 4846 still remaining as of January 28, 2026. The commissioners emphasized that although the Badong Outer Prison moved in on July 25, 2023, the inmate count was only 298, accounting for 11.15% of the total capacity. After occupying certain areas, the full maintenance contract was not initiated until January 1, 2026, meaning that relevant equipment was not maintained during this period, which not only adversely affects the safe operation of the prison but also easily leads to subsequent contract and warranty disputes. (Editor: Chang Jo-yao) 1150416