The Correctional Service of the Ministry of Justice will allow family members to send inmates' custody funds online starting from the 12th. This will apply to approximately 66,000 inmates across the country. Families no longer need to go to the prison or the post office in person. The handling fee is NT$5 per transaction, and it can be credited to the account as soon as the next day.
The Department of Correction stated that correctional institutions across the country will officially open the online deposit deposit service starting at 8:30 a.m. on the 12th. People can operate it through computers or mobile phones, so that family members who cannot go to the prison in person to meet or handle remittances at the post office can also send money remotely, reducing the need to travel back and forth.
The Department of Correction pointed out that in the past, if family members wanted to send custody funds, they could mainly send cash at the reception window of the correctional institution, mail cash or money order. Once family members are unable to go due to work, transportation or other factors, it may affect the recipient's ability to obtain the money necessary for daily life.
In order to improve this inconvenience, the Department of Correction has established an online custody deposit system to allow family support without distance restrictions. It hopes to use technology to help inmates obtain their daily necessities immediately, and also feel the care of their families, providing support for their future return to society.
According to statistics from the Department of Correction, as of November 5, there were about 66,000 people in correctional institutions across the country, all of whom are eligible for the new system. Online payment is a new convenient channel, and the original counter and mail methods are still maintained. As for how many people will be able to reduce the number of people who can send money at the counter after the implementation of the new system, it is currently impossible to evaluate.
As for the limit on the amount of money sent, the Department of Correction explained that in accordance with the "Regulations on Outsiders Sending Money, Food and Necessary Items to Inmates and Defendants", each sender is limited to sending money, food, and necessary items to individual inmates once a day, with the principle of NT$10,000 each time; in principle, the total amount of custody funds for the inmates is capped at NT$100,000.
However, the regulations for sending money online are clearer. If the total amount of the current custody fund plus the expected money to be sent exceeds NT$100,000, the recipient is not allowed to use the online system to send money. Each transaction is charged an additional 5 yuan handling fee by the third-party cash flow company, and currently only ATM transfer payments are accepted.
In terms of eligibility for use, the intern’s closest relatives and family members, as well as those deemed necessary and appropriate by the correctional agency, or those proposed and approved by the intern, can apply for use, but must first complete an identity check.
When people use it for the first time, they must log in to the "Convenient Services Portal" of the Department of Correction, enter the "Online Service for Inmates' Families", submit an identity verification application, and provide information such as the payee's information, the front and back of the ID card, and the image of the second ID. Only after the corrections agency has reviewed and approved can the money be sent.
After completing the verification, people select the recipient and the agency they belong to, enter the amount, contact information and refund account, and the system will be directed to the third-party cash flow payment page. After the remittance is completed, the correctional institution will process the deposit into the account, and it can be credited into the account the next day at the earliest.
The Department of Correction reminds that the system is open from 8 am to 5 pm every working day, and the public must apply during the opening hours.
