Investigation Room

 1. Map of the Investigation Room

Looking at the map of the investigation room, the interiors of the investigation room of each prosecutor office will differ depending on its size. The map of the court interiors should be placed below the platform across from the interpreter. When old or infirmed plaintiffs, the defendants, witnesses or expert witnesses are being cross-examined, the prosecutor should have put in the examination room.

2. Special Investigation Room

Based on the promotion of the Ministry of Justice’s “Reinforcement of Legal Protection for Women and Children” and to improve the results of cases involving sexual abuse of women and children as well as violations of the preventive measures on sexual trade of children and adolescents, this office has instructed the head prosecutor to work closely with police personnel, social workers, educational and medical agencies to establish a support system that will settle, guide, and liaise with the victims, forming a security network.

Setting up of a special investigation room:

(1) Windows will have lace curtains with warm lighting for soothing atmosphere.

(2) There will be a round center table, sofas with backrests to replace the investigation room platform

(3) Parties will sit face-to-face in an investigation; written statements will be taken.

(4) “Supplementary doll” will be used in place of actual body examination to prevent the victim from being injured the second time.

(5) Assign head prosecutor to the case to ensure professional expertise.

(6) Implement the practice of having social workers accompany the victim during cross-examination to protect the rights of the victim.

3. Two-way television system

　　On April 13, 1999, the Ministry of Justice Letter: Fa-88-Chien-Chue-Tzh-Ti No. 001175 stated: to reinforce the protection of sexually abused victims, the Taiwan Taipei District Prosecutors Office, Shihlin District Prosecutors Office, Banciao District Prosecutors Office, Taichung District Prosecutors Office, and Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office will use two-way television systems on a trial basis to proceed with isolated questioning of the victim.

　　Seeing the revision of the criminal code on sex offenses and the additional drafting of the penal code for offense, the office has already considered major sex offenses as not being crimes where prosecution for an offence may only be instituted upon complaint. Should it become necessary, this will be promoted aggressively’ various measures protecting the sexually abused victim will be implemented. Personnel will be sent to Taiwan for observation and planning will go underway for the system to be set up. The 1st and 2nd investigation rooms will each be equipped with televisions, intercommunication line systems. Conducting isolated cross-examination in this three-dimensional space will produce good results; it prevents the victim from being harmed the second time, encouraging him or her to bravely face the law.

4. Identification Office

On March 26, 1999, the Ministry of Justice Letter: Fa-88-Chien-Chue-Tzh-Ti No. 000954 stated that: “According to Article 5 of the “Implementation Standards for Prosecutor Handling Cases of Sexual Violations, when questioning the victim, he or she should be isolated and kept separated from the defendant to make it more convenient and conducive for the victim to give his or her statement. Should a confrontation or identification be deemed necessary, special attention must be paid to using appropriate measures to protect the victim.

In June 1999, the agency set up an identification office at the left hand area of the 2nd investigation hall, installing one-way mirrors and intercommunication system. Furthermore, it also placed a yardstick to measure height and set up separate entrances and exits in and out of the investigation hall, ensuring that defendants and victims do not meet prematurely. It makes it more convenient for isolated questioning to reduce the fear of the victim; this protects the rights of the victim.