May is a season of gratitude. To ease the homesickness of inmates, Chiayi Prison of the Agency of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, organized a special in-person family visitation event ahead of Mother’s Day. The event took place on May 7 and 8, with a total of four sessions over two consecutive days. A total of 369 inmates and 705 family members registered to participate.

Additionally, to accommodate inmates whose families were unable to visit in person, the prison arranged a “Filial Piety by Phone” program. With the assistance of Chunghwa Telecom’s Chiayi Branch, 15 telephone lines were set up, allowing 850 inmates to express their love and gratitude in advance to their mothers or family members.

As the saying goes, “One misses family more during festive seasons.” The visitation site was filled with touching scenes of warmth and interaction between inmates and their families, creating a heartfelt and emotional atmosphere. At Workshop No. 8, the daughter of inmate Chen frequently snuggled and played affectionately with her father during the visitation, drawing envy from other inmates who remarked on the joy of having daughters. At Workshop No. 9, another inmate, also surnamed Chen, was moved to tears upon seeing his elderly mother, frail and walking with a cane, come to visit him. He expressed deep remorse and vowed to strive for good performance and not let his mother worry again.

During the event, social workers from Chiayi Prison and the Chiayi County Family Protection and Anti-Violence Association conducted close-up interviews and provided emotional support to inmates and their families. They also took the opportunity to promote anti-fraud awareness among the family members.

Chiayi Prison emphasized that family visitation events are part of the correctional system’s ongoing family support initiatives. The goal is to inspire remorse and transformation in inmates through the power of familial love. Family support plays a crucial role in an inmate’s successful reintegration into society. Through events like this, it is hoped that inmates can experience love and responsibility, and rebuild a positive direction in life. This activity is not just a reunion—it is a spiritual renewal. Through the strength of family ties, inmates are guided to reflect on their past, make courageous changes, and gradually embark on the path of personal reconstruction.