Can inmates buy stuff at correctional facilities when they first arrive? Are there any restrictions?

1. When inmates first arrive at correctional facilities, they need to turn over the money with them to the facilities for safekeeping. Inmates will be given a Safekeeping Account Book and a Labor Wage Book to record shopping and other expenses incurred in the facility.
2. Items sold at the cooperatives inside correctional facilities are classified into “general items (food) and “non-general items” (non-food items like electrical appliances, batteries, blankets….., etc.). A price list that details the names of items for sale and their prices, which are lower than the market prices, are posted in the visitation room and housing areas for the information of inmates and visitors.
3. For the sake of maintaining order and security, daily purchase of general items by inmates is limited to NT$300 per person. On special holidays (on the day of Dragon Boat Festival, the day of Mid-Autumn Festival, and from Chinese New Year’s Eve to January 3 on lunar calendar), the daily spending limit is NT$600 per person. Unused quota for daily spending may not be carried over.
4. When the cost of non-general items exceeds NT$300 or NT$600, inmates must obtain the approval of the educational block officer and the head of correctional facility before making a purchase.

How to apply for retrieval of personal items or money under safekeeping?

1. Application and procedures:
   1. Apply in person by inmate or inmate’s family: Inmate or inmate’s family submits an application to the correctional facility, detailing name of belonging, person designated to pick up the item and reason for use. After an approval is granted, the facility will verify relevant supporting documents, chops, power of attorney and amount (item and quantity) of money (belongings), and hand it over to the applicant in person and ask the applicant to sign for the receipt of money (belongings).
   2. Apply online: Go to Ministry of Justice’s online application system (https://eservice.moj.gov.tw) to make application. After receiving the application, the correctional facility will forward the case to the staff in charge. The staff will review the supporting documents, chops and power of attorney submitted by the inmate or inmate’s family, and notify the applicant by post to come retrieve inmate’s money (belongings) from the correctional facility.
2. When defendants to be held incommunicado apply for retrieval of items under safekeeping, they may follow the procedure 1 (1) after obtaining the consent of the court or prosecutors office.
3. When applying for retrieval of an inmate’s money or belongings under safekeeping, a written consent of the inmate is required if the inmate is still at the correctional facility; if the inmate has left the correctional facility, the person retrieving the money or belongings must present inmate’s power of attorney and relevant supporting documents.

What can be done if an inmate does not have money to go home upon release?

If an inmate knows before release that he will not have enough money to pay for the fare to go home, the inmate can ask for the assistance of travel expenses from the correctional facility and fill out the receipt before release. After review and approval, the inmate shall fill out a “Receipt” and Taiwan After-Care Association will fund inmate’s trip back home. In case an inmate is disabled and deemed unable to go home on his own following evaluation, the correctional facility should contact his relatives to come pick up the inmate. If an inmate is unable to take care of him and has no home to return to, the correctional facility should contact the After-Care Association or the social affairs agency to assist in placement matters.