I.Introduction

Taichung Branch, Taiwan High Prosecutors Office is the second instance prosecutorial agency with jurisdiction over Taichung City, Changhua County, Nantou County and Miaoli County. The Branch is responsible for investigating cases, carrying out public prosecutions, assisting private prosecutions, directing the execution of criminal judgments, and performing other duties prescribed by laws and regulations. In order to make the people understand the business and work priorities of the Branch, and thus have centripetal force and cohesion towards the country as well as trust and confidence in the judiciary, safeguard the welfare of the people and social justice, and give full play to the prosecutorial business functions, the Branch, based on the concept of serving the people, proposes this "White Paper on Serving the People" in the hope of improving service quality and fulfilling the responsibility of protecting the rights of the people.

II.urrent major business:

1. Achieve fairness and justice

The current work focus is on cross-departmental efforts to combat and investigate crimes that undermine social justice and fairness, such as financial crimes, fraud, embezzlement, kidnapping, carjacking for ransom, and crimes related to people's livelihood.

2. Improve case handling efficiency

The Branch has committed to handling all cases promptly to protect the rights and interests of the people, including investigation, appeal, reconsideration, defense, execution of final judgment (including application for commutation to a fine), application for determining the criminal sanction to be executed, application for exemption from continued execution of compulsory labor and execution of sentence, transfer of jurisdiction, military investigation opinion (i.e. military judgment opinion), review of compensation for crime victims, people's petition, etc.,

3. Actively implement public prosecution

Once prosecutors of the Branch have taken responsibility for handling cases in the court, they actually appear in court to carry out public prosecution and make thorough arguments in addition to carefully reviewing the case dossiers before going to court. When necessary, our prosecutors contact the prosecutor of the first instance to understand the case in detail. Meanwhile, they pay attention to the evidence in favor of or against the accused, and analyze and discuss the circumstances of the accused's crime for the criminal court's consideration so as to ensure that no injustice is done or leniency is given.

4. Proper use of the rights to make interlocutory appeal and appeal

When a prosecutor is served upon the authenticated copy of a judgment, he/she will read the judgment content of each case thoroughly. If the prosecutor discovers the judgment in contravention of the laws, such as improper recognition and legal citation, he/she will gain access to the case dossier and then state the reasons in detail to make an interlocutory appeal or a third-instance appeal. If the case has been finalized and the judgment is indeed in contravention of the laws, the prosecutor will also submit an extraordinary appeal opinion and request the Prosecutor General to make an extraordinary appeal for relief.

5. Strictly implement voluntary reporting

It is the prosecutor's duty to bring hidden treason and crime to light and curb crime. If the prosecutor finds in the course of case handling that a person related to the case, a third party, or a witness is suspected of committing a crime or that an advertisement in a newspaper or magazine involves a crime, the prosecutor shall find out the name and address of the person involved and hand the event over to the local Prosecutors Office in the jurisdiction for investigation and handling according to law.

6. Strengthen protection for crime victims

The Branch has established the "Taiwan High Prosecutors Office Taichung Branch Crime Victim Compensation Review Committee" to be responsible exclusively for review of the applications in regard to the events that the applicants are dissatisfied with the decision or inaction of the Prosecutors Office Review Committee of first instance in their jurisdiction.

III. Our commitment

1. Principle of careful handling

We treat all matters of public service equally, regardless of size, and take a proactive attitude to consider for the public so that the cases we serve can be properly resolved.

2. Principle of professional handling

Service personnel are strictly required to be familiar with legal knowledge, and case officers from various divisions and offices are requested to be always ready to provide support. Therefore, the public can obtain the most clear and correct answers in the shortest time.

3. Two-way communication

To the people who seek help, we explain and answer various questions with an empathetic, sincere attitude and tactful tone. In the event that a party of a case misunderstands the law, we give him/her an explanation of the law in a calm, patient and tactful manner.

IV.Our direct-to-people services

1. Properly handle people’s petitions
   • Petition cases will be handled immediately upon arrival.
   • To strengthen public service, the Branch, pursuant to the "Regulations on Handling People's Petitions" promulgated by the Ministry of Justice, classifies cases into document series with the code "Diao" or code "Chen" depending on the agency or individual that sent the petition, and puts the cases on computer management. We will complete the processing and reply in writing within one month. The service officer will also patiently listen to the public's petition made on the spot, record and manage it, and assign and handle the case quickly.

2. Consulting services

For the cases that cannot be handled or answered on the spot, we will explain earnestly and transfer them to other units for prompt processing or seek assistance from other legal service agencies.

3. Telephone statement service

To provide service for a simple case of statement by telephone, the service officer will respond promptly on the spot. If the case cannot be answered immediately, it is recommended to submit a written statement for processing within a specified time limit.

4. Actively promote online application, inquiry and reply matters

On the website of the Branch, various application forms and written sample documents are available for download and use. Besides, we have dedicated staff to manage and respond to application matters.

5. Service for application cases
   • Reply within the deadline.
   • Application cases are classified into document series with the code "Sheng-Ta." As soon as processing of the case is finished, the applicant will be notified in writing. If the requested matter cannot be processed within the time limit, a written notice will be given to the applicant first.
   • Sample application forms are provided and displayed at the service counter for the public to use at their own convenience.

6. Strengthen various convenience measures at the public service center

• Selection of qualified personnel:

Experienced personnel who have legal expertise and a passion for service are selected to answer inquiries and assist in handling various applications.

• Convenience measures provided:
  1. Set up a workflow diagram for each application matter to facilitate processing of the application matter.
  2. Display application forms and the handling process of the application case; provide application forms free of charge.
  3. Provide tables and chairs, photocopying equipment, reading glasses and other supplies for filling out forms.
  4. Provide wheelchairs, courtesy bells, and breastfeeding rooms.

• Promote legal knowledge:
  1. Prosecutors visit schools and community teams from time to time to promote legal knowledge.
  2. Cooperate with social groups to organize anti-election bribery and other activities, promote legal knowledge and enhance democratic literacy.
  3. The service center displays various legal information materials for free reading by the public. It also regularly broadcasts legal knowledge advocacy videos on various popular social news for the public to watch.

• Solicit suggestions:

Set up public opinion boxes and opinion survey forms, and conduct opinion survey statistics.

• Set up an administrative reform mailbox to solicit reform suggestions from all walks of life.

The prosecutorial agency has set up an "Electronic Public Opinion Mailbox" to receive suggestions from the public on the Internet and to provide specific responses to the questions raised by the public.

• The Public Service Center is a full-function counter with unified service, achieving one-stop receipt and full-process service efficiency, so as to establish a good judicial image and implement public service work.

• Services provided by the Public Service Center:
  1. Strictly enforce punctuality in court sessions.
  2. Daily travel expenses are paid to witnesses and expert witnesses.
  3. Review and approve the commutation to a fine.
  4. The procedures for the parties or related persons to conduct the litigation.
  5. Matters such as reporting, submitting pleadings, and applying for postponement of the court date.
  6. Guide the persons having doubts about legal entities to the Civilian Legal Service Center to make inquiries.
  7. Take care of the applications made by the party concerned or the related person for reissue of certificate and other documents.
  8. Litigation counseling and popularization of legal knowledge.
  9. Convenience services.

7. Properly handle news processing during investigation
   • The "Press Spokesperson System" is implemented effectively.
   • The news content must be appropriate.
   • Plan a special area for media interviews and control media interviewers' access to the case handlers' offices.

8. If the prosecutor does not make an appeal in response to the application for appeal, he or she shall promptly notify the applicant of the reasons for not appealing.

In regard to the case for which the court of second instance pronounced that the criminal action is not guilty, exempt from prosecution, or case dismissed, and the complainant has brought an appeal to the court of third instance, if the prosecutor considers the appeal meritless, the case officer shall promptly notify the complainant accordingly and remind the complainant to avoid fraud.

V.We will review and improve our service quality all the time and will not be satisfied with the status quo.

1. Based on the "Scope of Work and Assessment Standards for Public Services of Various Agencies under the Ministry of Justice," the Branch has standardized more than 20 items, including service attitude, promotional measures, and telephone etiquette, as the basis for our own regular assessment. We also irregularly test the telephone etiquette of all colleagues, list urging and reporting cases, strengthen the professional knowledge and service attitude training of staff, and continuously propose reviews and improvements in work meeting, which are also an important reference for year-end performance appraisals.
2. We will effectively grasp public opinion, conduct "Public Service Questionnaire Surveys" from time to time, research and plan innovative service measures, simplify processing procedures, and combine social resources when necessary to provide various public services.

VI.We sincerely welcome your suggestions and feedback. If you have any suggestions or comments on the services we provide, please feel free to let us know so that we can handle them properly. If you have any ideas, you are also welcome to provide them to us for our reference and improvement.

The Branch address: No. 91, Sec. 1, Ziyou Road, West District, Taichung City 40342

Enquiry hotline: (04) 22232311 ext. 2124

Electronic public opinion mailbox: tchmail@mail.moj.gov.tw