Chiayi Old Prison, Law museum in Chiayi, Taiwan
Chiayi Old Prison is a former correctional facility in East District, Taiwan, designed with a central watchtower and three cell blocks radiating outward for complete visibility. The layout reflects prison architecture principles used during the early 20th century.
The facility began operations in 1919 as a branch prison and continued functioning until 1994 before being converted into a museum. This transformation marked an important shift in how the country approached education about its correctional history.
The women's section reveals how mothers and their young children lived together in the facility, with nursery spaces built into the daily prison routine.
The museum welcomes visitors Tuesday through Sunday with regularly scheduled tours, and there is no admission charge. The radial layout of the cell blocks makes it easy to explore the grounds and move between different sections.
The museum displays punishment equipment from the colonial period, including heavy metal restraints and solitary confinement cells that offer stark evidence of historical conditions. These preserved objects give visitors a direct sense of what daily life was like for those held inside.
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