從「矯治無效論」到「循證復歸治理」——美國刑罰政策轉型及其對我國矯正改革之啟示

From“Nothing Works”to“Evidence-Based Reentry Governance”: The Transformation of U.S. Penal Policy and Its Implications for Taiwan’s Correctional Reform

美國自1970年代「矯治無效論」興起後，刑罰政策轉向懲罰取向，導致重刑化、監禁人口激增與社會不正義。2008年金融危機與Brown v. Plata案標誌政策轉型契機，在循證工具成熟、犯罪率下降與公眾態度轉變下，美國推動《第二次機會法》、《第一步法》等矯正改革，導入RNR模式與轉化犯罪學，強調風險治理與復歸支持。本文發現：美國經驗顯示，情緒化、民粹化的重刑化政策不僅無法有效遏止犯罪，反而導致「監禁成癮」現象，造成社會不正義、更生人再犯困境與國家財政失衡等長期負面後果。相反地，以循證為基礎的改革（如RNR模式、轉化犯罪學）能有效降低再犯，並提升刑罰正當性。
研究建議：本文綜整美國刑罰政策變遷之背景、實踐與理論發展，進一步反思對臺灣的啟發。當前臺灣亦面臨監禁人口壓力、資源配置瓶頸與高齡受刑人激增等挑戰。為此，臺灣應借鏡美國轉型經驗，推動兼顧人權與實證的矯正政策改革。具體而言，應透過建立循證處遇機制、推動社區復歸方案、建構風險需求評估制度，並正視高齡受刑人處遇，方能有效降低再犯、實現現代刑罰治理之轉型。

Since the emergence of the“Nothing Works”thesis in the 1970s, U.S. penal policy shifted from rehabilitation to punitive approaches, resulting in mass incarceration, fiscal burdens, and systemic injustice. The 2008 financial crisis and the landmark Brown v. Plata decision prompted a critical reevaluation of incarceration-centered policies. Driven by evidence-based research, declining crime rates, and bipartisan support, reforms such as the Second Chance Act and the First Step Act have promoted risk governance and reintegration through the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model and translational criminology.
This article reviews relevant literature and provides the following key findings: The U.S. experience demonstrates that emotional, populist-driven, tough-on-crime policies not only fail to effectively deter crime but also lead to an“addictive incarceration”phenomenon, resulting in long-term negative consequences such as social injustice, high recidivism rates among former inmates, and fiscal burdens on the state. Conversely, evidence-based reforms (such as the RNR model and translational criminology) can effectively reduce recidivism and enhance the legitimacy of punishment.
Furthermore, this article synthesizes the background, practices, and theoretical developments of U.S. penal policy transformation and reflects on its implications for Taiwan as Taiwan is currently facing similar challenges, including pressure from a growing incarcerated population, bottlenecks in resource allocation, and a sharp increase in elderly inmates. Therefore, this article argues that Taiwan should learn from the American experience and promote correctional policy reforms that balance human rights and empirical evidence. Specifically, it should establish evidence-based treatment mechanisms, promote community reentry programs, build a risk-need assessment system, and address the needs of elderly inmates. This will effectively reduce recidivism and achieve a modern transformation of penal governance.