Justice minister vows to transform prisons

During a visit to the Penghu Prison on the Penghu archipelago in the Taiwan Strait, Wang promised to lead an effort to modernize the country's prisons.

She was at the prison for the closing ceremony of a drug rehabilitation program for inmates, which included a skit, choir and Chi Gung performances, and an exhibition of various art works by the prisoners.

Addressing inmates who were soon to be released, Wang said she hopes they will have a brand new start in life.

The normally heavily guarded prison was opened to local officials, the media and the public Wednesday in support of the MOJ's idea of turning Taiwan's jails into tourist attractions.

Wang told the visitors that the MOJ will try to create a new image of the 24 jails around the country and will call them "cultural prisons" — places of hope.

In addition, the people confined in such places should be referred to as "students" instead of "inmates," she said.

The visitors, led by Wang and the chief warden Chan Che-feng, toured the Penghu Prison and looked at the farm work being done by the inmates.

At one point, Wang tried on a pair of leg irons, which she said were very heavy and uncomfortable.

"I will never be bad," she said with a smile.

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