Different Forms of Visitation
________________________________________

Q1: When is a juvenile inmate allowed to apply for visits after being registered with the detention house?
A:
After a new juvenile inmate (except a juvenile inmate prohibited from visitation) is registered with the detention house by completing the registration and identity confirmation procedure, the juvenile inmate may apply for visits in the period of time provided by the detention house.

________________________________________
Q2:What will be the visiting hours? Are visits possible during long holidays or recognized holidays?
Answer:
I This facility will arrange for visiting on regular working days in accordance with the “Government Agencies Workday Overniew” announced by the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration of the Executive Yuan every year.
II In general, the first Sunday of each month will be arranged for a holiday visit. No visits will be arranged on long holidays or recognized holidays. For the Chinese New Year holidays, this facility will announce the date and time of visit and the visiting rooms on the official website.
III Visiting hours of this facility are 09:00-11:00 and 14:00-16:30. Each visit may last for up to 30 minutes.
________________________________________
Q 3: What will be the procedure for requesting a visit?
Answer:

I Procedure for Application for Visit:
(I) Go to the waiting room and pick a number at the service desk, and fill in the application of delivery of items during the visit.
(II) Present the identification documents for registration for visit.
(III) Register for sending cash and items and refer to inspection.
(IV) Prepare the identification documents and wait for the meeting (in sequential order).
(V) Window for meeting (switch off mobile phones and do not use the phone).

II Required Identification Documents: National ID card, driver license, certified true copy of household registration or household registration record (for minors under the age of 12 who have not been issued a national ID card), passport, or other documents sufficient for proof of identity (bearing the date of birth, ID number, address, and photograph of the bearer). For foreign nationals, present passport, resident visa, and entry and exit document. Other documents sufficient for proving the relation with the inmate are also required.
III Limited to three visitors for the inmates (including children under the age of 12).

________________________________________
Q 4: How can I check if a specific juvenile inmate is admitted to the correctional facility or if a visit to the inmate is possible?
Answer:

I This facility will inform the next of kin of each juvenile inmate after admission to the facility with notification of the rules and regulations governing visit, delivery of parcels, and related matters, and remind the families of the juvenile inmates of possible telephone scams.
II Under the protection of the Personal Data Protection Act, only the related parties noted in the basic information card of the juvenile inmate being admitted or relatives who have made visits before may make inquiries to check if the juvenile inmate is admitted to this facility and the details on visiting the inmate. Information will be provided after authentication of identity.

________________________________________
Q 5: Can the inmates reject some visitors after being admitted to the correctional facility?
Answer:
I Juvenile inmates may reject visits from particular persons, and may petition by filing a report and specify the reason for rejecting the visits. Upon approval, this report will serve as the evidence for rejection of visits.
II Juvenile inmates may reject visits in the following manners:
(I) Juvenile inmates may prepare a report in writing and specify the persons to be rejected for visiting. This facility will compile a list of persons that juvenile inmates have rejected for visiting and refer the list to the visiting room. Persons on the list of rejection for visits by respective juvenile inmates will be notified upon their arrival at the visiting room by the staff.
(II) If a specific juvenile inmate discovers the persons waiting for visits in the visiting room are indeed the persons on the list of rejection for visits when being escorted to the visiting room, such inmate may respond to the supervisor at once and sign the “rejection of visit note” to cancel the visit.

________________________________________

Q6: What are the reasons that an application for a visit to a juvenile inmate may be refused or suspended?
A:
The reasons for refusing or suspending an application for a visit to a juvenile inmate are listed as follows:
1. The juvenile inmate violates the organization’s order and principles. After assessment, the organization decides to suspend visits to the juvenile inmate. During the suspension of visitation, all applications for visits to the juvenile inmate will be rejected.
2. The juvenile inmate applies for refusal of visit.
3. The person intending to visit the juvenile inmate does not take identification with him/her.
4. The person may probably violate the organization’s principles or impact the management order.
5. The person is drunk or behaving abnormally.
6. The person carries weapons, dangerous tools or prohibited items.
7. The person uses the name of another person. Any person not registered to visit the juvenile inmate shall not substitute or accompany the person already registered to visit the juvenile inmate.
8. The person violates the interests of the juvenile inmate.
9. The person’s behavior is suspicious.
________________________________________
Q 7: There are different categories of juvenile inmates, will the frequency of visits and the types of visitors to these inmates be different too?
Answer:
I Inmates under observation for rehabilitation from addiction may be visited once a week (any day of the week). Visitors should be the spouse and next of kin unless otherwise permitted by the case officer of relevant institutions with special reason that other persons can also be visitors. Visits may be prohibited or restricted if there is a concern for hindrance to the progress of rehabilitation or damage to the interest of the juvenile inmates.
II Juvenile inmates under reform education may be visited up to twice a week (any two days of the week) and the visitors can be relatives. Visits will be prohibited if there is a concern for hindrance to the implementation of reform (correctional) education or damage to the interest of the students.
III Juvenile detainees may be visited once daily (except for those who are prohibited from visits) and the visitors can be relatives. Visits will be prohibited if there is a concern for hindrance to the investigation of the case concerned or damage to the interest of the juvenile detainees.
IV The week starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday. Days are also the days of recognized holidays.

________________________________________
Q 8: Can the cohabitant visit the juvenile inmates as next of kin?
Answer:
I According to Article 1123 of the Civil Code, persons belong to the same house are, except the head of the house, the members of the house. Persons who are not relatives but who live in the same household with the object of maintaining the common living permanently are deemed to be the members of the house.
II Provide sufficient documents for proof of kinship or as determined by this facility on the basis of the investigation findings.
III If a member of the public corresponds with the juvenile inmate in the name of next of kin, present the affidavits declared by parents of both sides, the common household registration record (certified true copy of household registration), certificate of proof issued by official representatives at the local level, or other certification documents as the proving documents for application. They may proceed to correspond with each other in the name of next of kin pending the confirmation of the relation by this facility.

________________________________________

Q 9: If the inmate is divorced, can the ex-parents-in-law or ex-husband (wife) escort the legitimate children of the inmate for a visit?
Answer:
I To sustain the kinship of the juvenile inmates and for the encouragement of positive familial affiliation, this facility will review the application for visiting the juvenile inmates by their legitimate children escorted by the ex-spouse or relatives from their former marriage unless the juvenile inmates concerned reject the visit.
II In applying for visiting the inmates, applicants shall present identification documents. In addition, this facility will check the household registration record or certified true copy of the household registration for the details noted in the remarks column to determine the parenthood of the child and the relation of the other visitors keeping the child company. Upon confirmation of the relation, this facility will approve the visit under its authority.

________________________________________

Q10: Why is a defendant prohibited from visitations? How can we know whether the defendant is no longer prohibited from visitation and is allowed to meet with visitors again?
A:
1. According to the Code of Criminal Procedure, the court may issue an order, at its discretion or upon the request of the prosecutor, to prohibit the defendant from visits or a correspondence with anyone if the court thinks that the defendant may probably escape or destroy, fabricate or forge evidence or conspire with any accomplice or witness. However, in emergency circumstances, the prosecutor may take necessary measures first and report to the court in a timely manner for approval.
2. Once the defendant is not prohibited from visitation anymore, he/she is allowed to meet with and keep up a correspondence with his/her family and friends. The defendant may tell his/her family, via mail or telephone, to come to the organization to apply for a visit.
________________________________________

Q11: Is it possible to apply for an extra visit with the juvenile inmate for an important event happening in his/her family?
A:
If an important event happens in the juvenile inmate’s family (such as an accident, any family member being about to die of illness or disease, etc.), the family may apply for a phone visitation. Or, when the family of the juvenile inmate comes to the detention house to apply for a visit, they can explain the reason to the detention house, and the senior officer may consider the circumstances to prolong the duration of a visit or increase the times of visits.
________________________________________

Q12: Are husband and wife allowed to visit each other while in different detention organizations?
A:
1. To assist juvenile inmates with rebuilding their family relationships and supporting and accepting one another, the correction organization allows juvenile inmates to apply for long-distance visitation to visit their spouses and lineal relatives who are in different correction organizations.
2. Target: Spouse and lineal relatives of a juvenile inmate
3. Frequency: Once a month, 30-minute visit
4. Application: The juvenile inmate and the spouse or lineal relative of the juvenile inmate have to prepare certifying documents and file the application respectively with the correction organization where he/she stays. Each of the applicants shall have no record of violations in the last six months.
5. If the inmate (or his/her spouse or lineal relative that he/she intends to visit) is ordered by the prosecutor or the judge to be prohibited from visitation or correspondence, or is not allowed to visit due to violation of any rules, he/she shall not apply for long-distance visitation.
________________________________________

Q13: What is long-distance visitation? When does the correction organization receive applications? What are the rules?
A:
1. If the spouse and family members of the inmate are unable to go to the correction organization where the inmate stays to apply for a visit personally, the spouse and family members may go to any correction organization nearby to apply for long-distance visitation, so as to visit the inmate via video conferencing equipment. (For example, if the applicant lives in Taipei, he/she may go to Taipei Detention Center to file the application.)
2. Applicant: Inmate’s spouse, lineal relatives, collateral relative within three degrees of kinship, and relatives by marriage within two degrees of kinship
3. Subject to the application filed by the family of the inmate, the inmate may undertake long-distance visitation once a week for a 30–minute visit each time.
4. Time of visitation: 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, one session (a half hour) to be applied for every time.
5. Procedure and method:
(1) For a family applying for long-distance visitation for the first time, relevant identification documents and the application form (available in the correction organization) shall be prepared. The family shall send the application form and the identification documents (photocopies of the front and back sides of their ID cards, household certificate or household registration certificate, etc.) via a registered letter or fax to the organization where the inmate stays to apply for long-distance visitation. The applicant who has successfully applied for long-distance visitation before may apply for long-distance visitation via the reservation hotline (02-23890810) or the registration website (http://www.vst.moj.gov.tw/) or by directly calling the correction organization.
(2) The organization where the inmate stays will phone the applicant and tell him/her the visitation date arranged. The applicant may also make enquiries via telephone one day prior to the applied for visitation date.
(3) After the long-distance visitation application has been approved, the applicant shall take his/her identification to the organization where he/she applied for long-distance visitation on the date and time designated by the organization for the visitation. Then the applicant will be required to fill out the long-distance visitation registration form. After examination of the registration form, the long-distance visit will be arranged.
(4) If the applicant is unable to participate in long-distance visitation for any reason, the applicant shall call the correction organization to cancel the scheduled long-distance visit. If the applicant fails three times to carry out the long-distance visit on the date and time as scheduled, the correction organization where the inmate is staying may suspend the applicant’s application for long-distance visitation for three months.
6. When an inmate is ordered by the prosecutor or the judge to be prohibited from visitation or correspondence, or is not allowed to visit due to violation of any rules, the inmate is not entitled to long-distance visitation.
7. The correction organization may refuse the application for long-distance visitation if the applicant: (1) does not take his/her identification with him/her, (2) has suspicious behavior; or (3) is drunk or behaving abnormally. Any person not registered for visitation shall not substitute or accompany the person already registered to visit the inmate.
8. Correction organizations are equipped with long-distance visitation equipment. People planning to visit inmates are welcome to use it.
________________________________________

Q14: What is phone visitation? What are the applicable rules?
A:
1. Phone visitation is designed so that inmates in the correction organization can contact their direct relatives and family via telephone due to special reasons or for emergencies in order to resolve their problems.
2. A juvenile inmate is allowed to apply for phone visitation for the reasons listed below:
(1) The grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, spouse, son or daughter of the juvenile inmate is suffering from a serious disease.
(2) The family of the juvenile inmate suffers a natural disaster or important accident.
(3) The direct relatives or family members of the juvenile inmate are unable to visit him/her personally due to distance, old age, physical disability, young age or poverty.
(4) The juvenile inmate has urgent matters and needs to contact his/her direct relatives and family to resolve his/her problem in a timely manner.
3. The times available for phone visitation is from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For special reasons approved by the senior officer at the organization, the times listed above may be extended.
4. The phone conversation shall not exceed six minutes. For special reasons approved by the senior officer at the organization, the time mentioned above may be extended.
5. The conversation shall be related to the applied for matters. No code word or argot shall be used in the conversation. Foreigners may use their native languages or any languages used internationally.
6.Telephone bills shall be paid by the inmate or the other end of the call. This facility will pay for the telephone bill if there is a problem in payment.

________________________________________

Q15: Is it possible to make a reservation to visit a juvenile inmate?
A:
1. To save time for the spouse, family or relatives of the juvenile waiting in the detention house for filing an application to visit the juvenile inmate, the detention house accepts reserved visitation.
2. The hotline for making a reservation is 02-23890810. On-line reservation is also available on the organization’s visitation registration website (http://www.vst.moj.gov.tw/). The above systems are applicable to the reservation made for general visits and long-distance visitation.
3. After a visitor has completed the visit registration in the detention house, he/she may make a reservation for the next visit.
________________________________________

Q16: How should the person intending to visit the juvenile inmate make a reservation via telephone or on the Internet?
A:
1. The hotline for making a reservation is 02-23890810. Please follow the voice instructions. On-line reservation is also available on the organization’s visitation registration website (http://www.vst.moj.gov.tw/).
2. Applicant: An inmate’s spouse, lineal relatives, collateral relatives within three degrees of kinship and relatives by marriage within two degrees of kinship who have been to the correction organization to apply for a general visit more than once or have applied for long-distance visitation
3. Reservation time: It shall be from 00:00 of the 7th day to 15:00 of the 2nd day prior to the expected date of visit. If the deadline is on a weekend or national holiday, it shall be changed to the day immediately before the weekend or national holiday.
4. After the applicant completes the reservation procedure, he/she is able to make sure whether the reservation has been successfully made or not via telephone or on the Internet one day before the scheduled date.
5. If the applicant is unable to participate in the visit on the scheduled date or session, he/she shall cancel the reservation on the Internet or via telephone by 15:00 of the 2nd day prior to the scheduled date. If the said 2nd day is on a weekend or national holiday, the applicant shall have to cancel the reservation one day before the weekend or national holiday.
6. The reservation service is not applicable to a visit on a holiday or during Chinese lunar New Year vacation and national holidays.
7. An applicant who has completed the reservation procedure is required to take his/her identification (such as an ID card, driver’s license, or Alien Resident Certificate or passport if the applicant is a foreigner) with him/her and complete the registration procedure 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time and then visit the inmate during the applied for session.
8. An applicant who has reserved a visit shall not reserve another visit until the scheduled visit has been completed.
9. The applicant shall use his/her real identity while reserving a visit. If the identity of the applicant is found to be fake (or false), the applicant will not be allowed to use the service. If an applicant fails to carry out a visit at his/her scheduled time twice in six months, the detention house will not accept his/her application for reservation for three months from the last scheduled visit date.
________________________________________

Q17: How should a person intending to visit a juvenile inmate make a reservation personally in the detention house?
A:
1. Applicant: An inmate’s spouse, lineal relatives, collateral relatives within three degrees of kinship, and relatives by marriage within two degrees of kinship.
2. The on-site application for reserving a date of visit shall be filed within two weeks before the scheduled date. The applicant shall not reserve for the next visit until the registration of the visit for the current day has been completed.
3. After the applicant has completed the reservation for a visit on the current day, the organization will give the applicant a reservation completion sheet. The applicant is required to take documents sufficient to certify his/her identity with him/her and go to the correction organization where the inmate is staying to complete the registration procedure 30 minutes before the scheduled time.
4. If the applicant is unable to go to the organization to meet the inmate on the scheduled date and time, the applicant shall cancel his/her reservation via telephone by 16:00 of the last day before the scheduled visit date. If the said last day is on a weekend or national holiday, the applicant shall cancel the reservation one day before the weekend or national holiday.
5. If an applicant fails to carry out a visit at his/her scheduled time twice in six months, the detention house will not accept his/her on-site reservation application for three months from the last scheduled visit date.
6. The on-site reservation service is not applicable to a visit on the first weekend or during Chinese lunar New Year vacation and national holidays.