Published: 2026/9/26 12:45 Updated: 2026/9/26 13:20
Chen Jiaxin, Chen Hongyi / Comprehensive Report
A bloody conflict broke out on a school campus in Ruifang, New Taipei City on the evening of the 24th. A senior high school student was stabbed in the neck with scissors by a junior high school student and was rushed to the hospital. Besides drawing public attention, the family of the victim in the similar neck-slashing incident three years ago in New Taipei City issued a statement, believing that the “butterfly effect” has begun and urging the government to accelerate the amendment of the Juvenile Delinquency Act.
The recent case in Ruifang, New Taipei City, where a junior high school student stabbed a senior high school student with scissors, shocked society. Three years later, the family of Yang Cheng-xun, the victim in the same case, who suffered immense grief over the loss of their son, issued a statement on the 25th. Besides hoping the victim would wake up safely, they emphasized that during Yang Cheng-xun’s trial, they had expressed concern to the judge about potential ripple effects.
Yang Cheng-xun’s father stated, “My son’s case is so serious, and he had no history of sexual misconduct. He only gets 12 years. I even wrote a petition to the judge, saying that this case is the first of its kind and will definitely have a ripple effect. If they give him a lenient sentence, then other children will act with impunity.”
Yang’s father believes that the junior high school student’s attempted murder and surrender may lead to a reduced sentence, raising the question of whether society can accept such a lenient sentence.
Wu Yifeng, executive director of the Taipei Christian Liyou Center, believes, “Teenagers are growing up, and it’s not easy for them. They face pressure from this and that, and their emotional control isn’t very good. I tend to think that this is more of an internal issue, or a developmental need, that we should address.”
Social welfare groups that have long been involved in juvenile counseling believe that in addition to legal action, it’s more important to care about whether juvenile offenders have any unmet needs during their development.
Chang Yu-chia, Secretary-General of the Taiwan Juvenile Justice League, stated, “I think the judicial system needs further adjustments. After major incidents, what changes have occurred in the system? Juvenile justice cannot simply offer two options: protecting juveniles or aggravating the criminal law. Juvenile offenders should bear the legal responsibility they deserve.”
Wang Po-Chi, Associate Professor of the Department of Criminal Justice at Ming Chuan University, believes, “Juveniles are limited by their age, so they cannot be sentenced to death. We always try to address their potential for rehabilitation. This can lead to a situation where some juveniles act with impunity. I think the Juvenile Justice Act may need adjustment.”
Experts and scholars agree with Mr. Yang’s call for the government to expedite the amendment of the Juvenile Justice Act. However, the draft amendment to the Juvenile Justice Act was submitted to the Executive Yuan by the Judicial Yuan in May, but the Executive Yuan has not yet submitted it to the Executive Yuan meeting, preventing the Legislative Yuan from reviewing it.