Cabinet seeks to ban parole for 'major violent crime' offenders

Taipei, Oct. 30 (CNA) Taiwan's Cabinet approved a draft bill Thursday to strip the possibility of parole for criminals sentenced to 10 years or more for murder, attempted murder, and child abuse resulting in severe injury or death.

The Cabinet said in its proposal that the new rule aims to "deter major violent crime."

The bill was approved as part of a broader package of amendments drafted by the Ministry of Justice, but must still be reviewed by the Judicial Yuan before moving to the Legislature.

Other amendments in the package seek to address Constitutional Court rulings issued between 2021 and 2024 concerning parole and death penalty conditions.

One such proposed amendment would bar courts from imposing the death penalty on defendants whose judgment was found to be impaired by mental or cognitive illness during the crime or trial.

The Criminal Code currently exempts only those aged under 18 or over 80 from capital punishment.

A 2024 Constitutional Court ruling found that sentencing someone to death while they are unable to defend themselves due to cognitive impairment violates their constitutional right to a fair legal defense.

The court also said such punishment conflicts with Article 19 of the Criminal Code, which states that individuals may have their sentence reduced when their ability to recognize the illegality of their actions is impaired due to cognitive conditions.