長刑期受刑人監禁之現況、衝擊與影響──兼論合適處遇之方案

The Current Status, Impacts and Consequences of Long- Term Prisoner Imprisonment–With a Discussion of Appropriate Treatment Options

國際刑法改革組織（Penal Reform International）與泰國司法研究所（Thailand Institute of Justice）共同發布的全球監獄趨勢（Global Prison Trends，2025）年度報告指出，目前在許多國家無期徒刑的數量、期限、條件和可判處無期徒刑的犯罪類型都有上升趨勢。以2023年最新數據估計，全球近50萬人正在服正式的無期徒刑，而服“事實上的＂無期徒刑的人數仍然未知。其中美國監獄服無期徒刑的人數最多，約有六分之一的人正在服無期徒刑，總計203，865人。全球超過三分之一的無期徒刑受刑人是美國受刑人。無期徒刑受刑人在各項處遇上面臨嚴峻之考驗。
刑法自95年7月1日修法通過對犯重罪者施以更嚴厲的刑罰，包括提高假釋門檻、廢除連續犯與牽連犯改以一罪一罰、提高數罪併罰執行上限為三十年等，長刑期受刑人在監獄所占之人數與比例受此重刑化修法影響並不低，近十年間，2015年長刑期的人數為18，452名（32.4%），2024年為16，655名（31.5%）（法務部矯正署，2025），歷年均超過3成，直接或間接對犯罪矯正機關之戒護管理與各項處遇問題造成衝擊。
為此，本文檢視當前長刑期受刑人監禁收容之國際與國內現況，援引新近研究文獻說明長期監禁政策衍生之各項衝擊及對受刑人可能造成之身心影響，並引述國際文獻，參考美國、英國、加拿大立法與犯罪矯正部門之作法，探討長刑期受刑人之合適處遇作為與方案，供法務部研擬妥適對策之參考。

The annual report“Global Prison Trends, 2025,”jointly released by Penal Reform International and the Thailand Institute of Justice, indicates that the number, duration, conditions, and types of crimes punishable by life imprisonment are all on the rise in many countries. Based on the latest data from 2023, it is estimated that nearly 500,000 people worldwide are currently serving formal life sentences, while the number serving“de facto”life sentences remains unknown. The United States has the largest number of people serving life sentences, accounting for approximately one-sixth of all inmates, totaling 203,865. More than one-third of all life inmates worldwide are in the United States. Life inmates face severe challenges in various aspects of their treatment.
Since the amendments to the Taiwan’s Criminal Code on July 1, 2006, harsher penalties have been imposed on those convicted of serious crimes. These amendments include raising the parole threshold, abolishing the concepts of repeat offenders and related offenders and replacing them with a single penalty for each crime, and increasing the maximum sentence for multiple offenses to thirty years. The number and proportion of long-term prisoners in prison have been significantly affected by these stricter penalties. In the past decade, the number of long-term prisoners was 18,452 in 2015 (32.4%) and is projected to be 16,655 in 2024 (31.5%) (Correctional Agency, Ministry of Justice, 2025), consistently exceeding 30% each year. This has directly or indirectly impacted the protection, management, and treatment of offenders in correctional institutions.
Therefore, this article examines the current international and domestic status of long-term incarceration and detention of prisoners, citing recent research literature to illustrate the various impacts of long-term imprisonment policies and their potential psychological and physical effects on prisoners. It also cites international literature and references the practices of legislative and correctional departments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada to explore appropriate treatment measures and solutions for long-term prisoners, providing the Ministry of Justice with a reference for formulating appropriate countermeasures.