Covid outbreaks in prisons - now Thai media shows an interest in overcrowding

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

The huge spike in Covid-19 infections in Thailand's prison system has inspired the Thai media to delve into the numbers being held in various correctional facilities. 

 

There are now more than 10,000 inmates infected in the crowded conditions in Thai jails. 

 

The overcrowding and poor conditions have been a known fact for years - but until now few have seemed to care what happened to convicts. 

 

Daily News had the numbers in their report - though they didn't ask anyone in authority why this situation had arisen.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

They gave a list of around twenty main prisons where numbers over capacity were in the hundreds up to more than a thousand, according to Department of Corrections figures from May 5th this year.

 

Klong Phai Central prison was 602 over. Buriram was 203, Khon Kaen 728, Udon Thani 1,256, Kalasin 1,323, Nakhon Sri Thammarat 2,104, Surat Thani 726, Krabi 747, Phuket 480, Roi-Et 685 and Narathiwat 907. There were several others that broke the 100 over barrier. 

 

The media said that three - Kalasin, Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Narathiwat were 50% over capacity.

 

Kalasin should house 1,534 inmates but there are 2,857. 

 

Figures from May 2nd this year suggested there were 310,830 prisoners in Thai jails - 273,465 men and 37,365 women. 

 

80% are in for drugs related offences. 

 

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[RotBenz8888]

If only more criminals could afford to flee to Dubai, the prisons would've been less crowded. 

[worgeordie]

If they had showed a picture of prisoners in the cells,

that would explain everything why Covid is spreading 

in prisons.

regards Worgeordie

[dinsdale]

Let's hope this goes international. Saw mention of it on Austalia's national broadcaster. Of course it's not just Thailand with these conditions in prisons. Many countries are guilty of treating prisoners as sub-human. By the way I believe Thailand has the highest number of female prisoners per capita in the world.

Edited May 21, 2021 by dinsdale

[pattjock]

It's illegal with congregations of more than 20 people, looks like the department of punishment never got that memo

[ezzra]

Like it was a disaster waiting to happen, you don't have to be a brainiac to figure out that a large cluster of people in small confined places is a recipe for any virus spreading quickly, but hey, This IS Thailand after all... 

[darksidedog]

Overcrowding in Thai prisons is not only a national disgrace, it flies in the face of the international agreements Thailand has signed regarding prisoner rights. There is a set amount of floor space allocated but many in Thai prisons get a small percentage of that, packed in against each other exactly like sardines. Any time any infection gets into a Thai prison, everyone has it in no time, so it is not surprising that the prison numbers are high. They will get worse and given the malnutrition many suffer from, the death rate could be terrible.

[dinsdale]

3 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Overcrowding in Thai prisons is not only a national disgrace, it flies in the face of the international agreements Thailand has signed regarding prisoner rights. There is a set amount of floor space allocated but many in Thai prisons get a small percentage of that, packed in against each other exactly like sardines. Any time any infection gets into a Thai prison, everyone has it in no time, so it is not surprising that the prison numbers are high. They will get worse and given the malnutrition many suffer from, the death rate could be terrible.

Thing is will we hear about it.

[ikke1959]

Change some outdated laws.. As the police is still behind the most drugstraffic here, the poor people have to 10 years for an offence and real culprits are going on. Put the real bad ones in jail, allow some drugs for one use and use in cases like section 112 a ankle bracelet or so.. But stop  putting everybody behind bars.. It will solve nothing

[Kasset Tak]

I don't know if those numbers are right... I used to teach at Pichit prison and was told back then that the prison was initially built to house 500 male prisoners, but a part of the prison had been converted to house female prisoners... So when I was there there were over 1000 male and almost 500 female prisoners! And each prisoner had roughly 0.8 square meter living space in the cell!!!

[Sydebolle]

Now I understand, why some are not put into jail; Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya springs to mind - too dangerous! 

[Pedrogaz]

"80% in for drug related offences"....and absolute scandal and waste of time and money.

[AlfHuy]

6 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Let's hope this goes international. Saw mention of it on Austalia's national broadcaster. Of course it's not just Thailand with these conditions in prisons. Many countries are guilty of treating prisoners as sub-human. By the way I believe Thailand has the highest number of female prisoners per capita in the world.

I could volunteer to take in a few of those ladies after inspection.

[Cake Monster]

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Overcrowding in Thai prisons is not only a national disgrace, it flies in the face of the international agreements Thailand has signed regarding prisoner rights. There is a set amount of floor space allocated but many in Thai prisons get a small percentage of that, packed in against each other exactly like sardines. Any time any infection gets into a Thai prison, everyone has it in no time, so it is not surprising that the prison numbers are high. They will get worse and given the malnutrition many suffer from, the death rate could be terrible.

It is also a well know fact that the Prisons are a breeding ground for diseases such as TB and HIV due to the poor conditions.

I fear this will also be a major contributing factor in the Death rates

[KhaoYai]

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

They will get worse and given the malnutrition many suffer from, the death rate could be terrible.

The death rate is probably terrible already - its highly unlikely that the true figures will ever be reported.

[KhaoYai]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

They gave a list of around twenty main prisons where numbers over capacity were in the hundreds up to more than a thousand, according to Department of Corrections figures from May 5th this year.

It would be interesting to know what the standard capacity is - what they think is a reasonable amount of space. I'd take a guess that its well over what would be considered adequate in most countries.

[Cake Monster]

17 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

The death rate is probably terrible already - its highly unlikely that the true figures will ever be reported.

I dont think too much time, effort and expense will be used to quell the Covid outbreaks in the Prisons.

These people are treated with total disgust, and because they are locked away from Society, what harm can the do if not treated.

[digger70]

Covid outbreaks in prisons - now Thai media shows an interest in overcrowding 

 

I for one believe that overcrowding is the problem .

It's the People who bring the covid in the Jail , that's the problem.

Why blame the wrong people ,If there was  someone the blame it would be Management of the Jail for not doing the right thing to Prevent Covid to enter the Jail.

[Artisi]

10 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

If only more criminals could afford to flee to Dubai, the prisons would've been less crowded. 

With assisted passage ????

 

10 hours ago, pattjock said:

It's illegal with congregations of more than 20 people, looks like the department of punishment never got that memo

Do you really think anyone gives a rats a r s e about prison overcrowding,  any one? 

[Stargeezr]

Keep your nose clean, and be happy that you are not on your way to a Thai or any prison, these days.

  As for the criminals,  maybe it is time that they thought of their future before doing any more crime.  555, as if that is a factor for any criminal, as they are all too smart to be caught.  Silly me.

Geezer

[ChipButty]

People get banged up here for what we in the west class as petty crimes, 

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

Imprisoned for being poor. You know why the top guys never have to worry about it.

 

Here in the moo ban, some years ago, someone was caught with ya ba. Family scraped together the funds to pay off the judge. His price was 100k baht. Those who can't pay do the time.

 

Meanwhile, the ya ba is everywhere, so much so that the other day in the news, a dog brought home a bag of it left at a gang's drop off point. People continue to be poor, depressed, and continue turning to drugs. Locking them up continues failing to be a deterrent.

Edited May 22, 2021 by CrunchWrapSupreme

[Benmart]

On 5/21/2021 at 3:01 PM, AlfHuy said:

I could volunteer to take in a few of those ladies after inspection.

A hollow comment at best.

[scorecard]

On 5/21/2021 at 11:53 AM, worgeordie said:

If they had showed a picture of prisoners in the cells,

that would explain everything why Covid is spreading 

in prisons.

regards Worgeordie

 

Relevant shocking photos in BP a couple of days ago.

[Meat Pie 47]

On 5/21/2021 at 9:53 AM, worgeordie said:

If they had showed a picture of prisoners in the cells,

that would explain everything why Covid is spreading 

in prisons.

regards Worgeordie

[sabaay]

On 5/21/2021 at 9:21 AM, Kasset Tak said:

I don't know if those numbers are right... I used to teach at Pichit prison and was told back then that the prison was initially built to house 500 male prisoners, but a part of the prison had been converted to house female prisoners... So when I was there there were over 1000 male and almost 500 female prisoners! And each prisoner had roughly 0.8 square meter living space in the cell!!!

I think the Same the Numbers are much to Low, in real most prisons are double or near triple over what the build for and  growing,the give a <deleted> inmates arrive and arrive i was in a room build for 50 inmates and sometimes the Numbers was over 150...0.8square yeah sometimes Not even that.

[ChipButty]

The media shows an interest, Thats as far as it will go

[Smithson]

On 5/21/2021 at 2:21 PM, Kasset Tak said:

I don't know if those numbers are right... I used to teach at Pichit prison and was told back then that the prison was initially built to house 500 male prisoners, but a part of the prison had been converted to house female prisoners... So when I was there there were over 1000 male and almost 500 female prisoners! And each prisoner had roughly 0.8 square meter living space in the cell!!!

They claim only two prisons are over by 50%, but looking at the various photos online crowding is so bad that even a 50% reduction would be inadequate.

[Artisi]

Guess the only ones other than the prisoners and possibly a few friends and family and a couple TVF members and the news media (who have just woken up) are interested in the conditions in jail, nobody including the government give a rats a r s e for what's going on behind the bars. 

Out of sight - no concern. 

[MarcelV]

I live a stone's throw away from Narathiwat prison and if you see how small its area in the town is, it's unfathomable how poor the living conditions must be. Now with Covid roaming around it must be a living hell.

Edited May 23, 2021 by MarcelV