Numbered Life 編碼人生2013.10.28 Fountain Pen and Marker Pen Drawing 鋼筆+麥克筆

Article 9  of the Enforcement Rules of the Detention Act states, “After a defendant is admitted to a detention center, he/she shall be given a serial number under Article 12 of the Act thereof in place of his/her name; in addition, a personal data booklet and an identification booklet shall be prepared. The personal data booklet and identification booklet shall be prepared within two days of his/her admission to or discharged from the detention center and kept with care.” Article 16 of the Enforcement Rules of the Prison Service Act states, “Each prisoner shall be given an identification number in lieu of his/her name for administrative purposes.”

Whenever I see the detainee pick up a number card and take a mugshot, I often feel that the person has turned into a numbered case. This is how the judicial machine puts the prisoners into files. The prisoners are given uniforms and numbers in order to facilitate the management of institutional treatment. By doing this, the personal clothing that indicates a person’s identity is also removed. They all become faceless and nameless objects belonging to the collective body of inmates.
Execution of the penalties is nominally equal. However, differences among people will always exist. What is substantive equality? Does it meet the requirement of fairness?  We all know the answer very well.

羈押法施行細則第九條「被告入所後，除依本法第十二條編列號數，以代姓名外，並應編製被告名籍簿及身分簿。名籍簿及身分簿應於入所及出所二天內編製整理完畢，並妥善保管。」
監獄行刑法施行細則第十六條「受刑人入監後應編列號數，以代姓名。」

每看到舉起號碼牌拍檔案照的這一刻，我經常覺得收容人也成了一個個的「檔案」，這是司法機器對他們進行「歸檔」。
機構處遇為了方便管理，發給囚服、進行編號，自此象徵身份地位的衣物退去，沒了姓名的人即成了面目模糊的物件，只是囚犯團體中的一部份，這是行刑處遇形式上的平等，但人與之間的差異性畢竟永遠都會在，什麼又是實質的平等？能否做到真正的公允？
你我心知肚明⋯⋯