Thailand's Prisons Overflow as Overcrowding Hits Alarming Level

[webfact]

File photo via Benar News

 

Thailand's jails are under fire as overcrowding explodes, with new measures yet to materialise. The annual report from FIDH and the Union for Civil Liberty paints a grim picture of the situation, highlighting a 12% hike beyond the system's capacity.

 

Despite a fall in drug convictions over the past three years, 73% of inmates remain imprisoned for drug-related offences, with new drug laws potentially worsening the issue.

 

In 2024, criticism from two UN bodies put Thailand's prison system back in the spotlight. The Committee Against Torture and a Working Group focusing on discrimination against women and girls stressed that overcrowding was top of their agenda.

 

Despite awareness, Thai authorities lag behind in rolling out alternatives to incarceration, with reports indicating stalled progress.

 

 

 

Vice-President of FIDH, Fatia Maulidiyanti, called for immediate reforms. She stressed that harsher drug laws could inflate prison numbers and advised prioritising rehabilitation over punishment in line with global norms. The number of those under death sentences also grew, hitting a post-2020 high of 364.

 

Reports from inside these facilities reveal a bleak reality. Prisoners face cramped cells, poor-quality food, and inadequate healthcare.

 

Allegations also include unethical punishment and unequal treatment based on socio-economic status. Limited supplies and activities further dampen inmates' prospects, with many fearing retaliation if they complain.

 

The tragic death of human rights advocate Netiporn Sanesangkhom in May 2024 underscores the dire need for change.

 

Though things like menstrual product supply have improved, a serious overhaul of Thailand's prison system is critical for meeting international standards. As it stands, Thailand's crowded cells cry out for meaningful reform.

 

Based on a story by FIDH

 

-- 2025-03-27

 

 

[Ralf001]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

The number of those under death sentences also grew, hitting a post-2020 high of 364.

 

Git er done..... thats 364 new beds !

 

Also... maybe don't give someone with 3 yaba pills a 20yrs sentence, shorter sentence will reduce over crowding.

[ChaiyaTH]

Zero excuses for this, as usual. Will something change? Nope. 

[JimHuaHin]

Thailand is full of criminals, unfortunately most of them are not in prison, most are either in government employment or work for wealthy families.

[ikke1959]

The people who can't afford a decent lawyer will be sent to jail.. That is why jails are overcrowded even for a minor offence you get jailtime, as we can read here on Aseannow and many other websites. They should start with electronic ankle bands for minor offences and the real criminals murders and robbers should be jailed. But someone who as we could read last week drove on the wrong side of the road doesn't need to get a 4 month jailtime, but confiscate his motorcycle and and forbid him to drive which can be easily controlled by his ankle band... But Thai justice system is just a lot of other things outdated and very conservative and other opportunities are never concerned.  Let them do community service for several hours as another example...And the ones who need to go to jail can spend their time in a hospital without any consequences

[Sierra Tango]

Yep, the poor get locked up the rich get VIP treatment in a cushy hospital suite.

[Gottfrid]

40% could be a mental hospital, another 40% could be prison. The regular people will only need 20% of the countries land area. See, problem fixed. Now we only need 2 huge roofs!

[Andre0720]

I see two issues described here.

One, the issue of number of incarcerated people.

Two, the treatment that these prisoners must undergo.

 

 

As for the numbers, well, they reflect this country's 'conservative" approach to governance.

Might be better than all the rapists let loose in the US.

 

As for the treatment of these prisoners, the culture here, regardless of the number of fake polite sounds and gestures, is all tainted with a lack of empathy. Which might very well be the main feeling showing in how foreigners react here...

 

[Packer]

A new war on drugs. Execute anyone in possession of yaba on the spot. Lots of space in prison and society would be much safer and better as a whole. 

[NorthernRyland]

What are these people in jail for? Thailand very much seems like a country which happily disregards all manor of laws so it's surprising to have so many prisoners. Violent crime would appear low on the surface too. I'm guessing drug offenses are the majority.

[ronster]

When jailing people for minor drug crimes and picking mushrooms it's hardly surprising .

[craighj]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo via Benar News

 

Thailand's jails are under fire as overcrowding explodes, with new measures yet to materialise. The annual report from FIDH and the Union for Civil Liberty paints a grim picture of the situation, highlighting a 12% hike beyond the system's capacity.

 

Despite a fall in drug convictions over the past three years, 73% of inmates remain imprisoned for drug-related offences, with new drug laws potentially worsening the issue.

 

In 2024, criticism from two UN bodies put Thailand's prison system back in the spotlight. The Committee Against Torture and a Working Group focusing on discrimination against women and girls stressed that overcrowding was top of their agenda.

 

Despite awareness, Thai authorities lag behind in rolling out alternatives to incarceration, with reports indicating stalled progress.

 

 

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Vice-President of FIDH, Fatia Maulidiyanti, called for immediate reforms. She stressed that harsher drug laws could inflate prison numbers and advised prioritising rehabilitation over punishment in line with global norms. The number of those under death sentences also grew, hitting a post-2020 high of 364.

 

Reports from inside these facilities reveal a bleak reality. Prisoners face cramped cells, poor-quality food, and inadequate healthcare.

 

Allegations also include unethical punishment and unequal treatment based on socio-economic status. Limited supplies and activities further dampen inmates' prospects, with many fearing retaliation if they complain.

 

The tragic death of human rights advocate Netiporn Sanesangkhom in May 2024 underscores the dire need for change.

 

Though things like menstrual product supply have improved, a serious overhaul of Thailand's prison system is critical for meeting international standards. As it stands, Thailand's crowded cells cry out for meaningful reform.

 

Based on a story by FIDH

 

-- 2025-03-27

 

 

Screw international standards, who said they are correct???

[Mad Mustang]

Well it is Thailand. Nothing will change, it will just get worse. Out of sight out of mind

[Davedub]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

73% of inmates remain imprisoned for drug-related offences, with new drug laws potentially worsening the issue.

 

Well there is the problem right there - mindlessly repeating the same old action, every time expecting different results. 

 

Drugs won the war on drugs, decades ago.

 

As proven by the Portugese for many years now, the provision of education and mental healthcare is a far more appropriate, effective and cost effective way of reducing drug harm. No well informed, mentally healthy person deliberately causes themselves harm. 

 

But no, like in so many other countries globally, the nature of politics demands that politicians be seen as 'tough on drugs' instead of compassionate and realistic, thus furthering and increasing drug harm and needless suffering whilst continuing the funneling of vast sums of money into the hands of criminal enterprises.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Despite a fall in drug convictions over the past three years, 73% of inmates remain imprisoned for drug-related offences, with new drug laws potentially worsening the issue.

Say's something about Thailands drug issue.

[Andrew65]

Thailand has the same population as the UK, but triple the prison population. c.250,000 V c.80,000.

[Andrew65]

3 hours ago, Andre0720 said:

I see two issues described here.

One, the issue of number of incarcerated people.

Two, the treatment that these prisoners must undergo.

 

 

As for the numbers, well, they reflect this country's 'conservative" approach to governance.

Might be better than all the rapists let loose in the US.

 

As for the treatment of these prisoners, the culture here, regardless of the number of fake polite sounds and gestures, is all tainted with a lack of empathy. Which might very well be the main feeling showing in how foreigners react here...

 

In 2013, The Week reported that at least 3,278 Americans were serving life sentences without parole for nonviolent crimes, including "cursing at a policeman and selling $10 worth of drugs. More than 80 percent of these life sentences are the result of mandatory sentencing laws."

[KireB]

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

What are these people in jail for? Thailand very much seems like a country which happily disregards all manor of laws so it's surprising to have so many prisoners. Violent crime would appear low on the surface too. I'm guessing drug offenses are the majority.

[smew]

Thai solution will be an amnesty to 80% of prison population who served 50% of their time: remember previous release:  a released killer killed again within 2 weeks, Udon Tani I think he was from.

  

[digger70]

Thailand's Prisons Overflow as Overcrowding Hits Alarming Level 

 

Easy fixed ,Cleanup Death row and Built more jails . No Excuse.

The way society is going there are going to be Many more crims so many more people giong to jail.

[Thingamabob]

The police and the courts should focus on serious crimes, not on trivial misdemeanours. Way too many people in prison for minor drug offences, and not only in Thailand.

[JJ-Thailand]

Could Taxin have a solution?

[ChipButty]

5 hours ago, Sierra Tango said:

Yep, the poor get locked up the rich get VIP treatment in a cushy hospital suite.

With a nice view overlooking the golf coarse I was told, 

[KireB]

1 hour ago, digger70 said:

Thailand's Prisons Overflow as Overcrowding Hits Alarming Level 

 

Easy fixed ,Cleanup Death row and Built more jails . No Excuse.

The way society is going there are going to be Many more crims so many more people giong to jail.

Everybody deserves a 2nd chance in a free country. Maybe youn should move to .Saudi Arabia.

[sambum]

"Despite a fall in drug convictions over the past three years, 73% of inmates remain imprisoned for drug-related offences..............."

 

That figure says it all!

[digger70]

1 hour ago, KireB said:

Everybody deserves a 2nd chance in a free country. Maybe youn should move to .Saudi Arabia.

Yes ,give them parole and they go at it again ad Rape /Kill / Rob . 

Be sensible if they are proven to  be guilty for heinous  crimes they Don't deserve any 2nd chance..

[Purdey]

Unfortunately, many Thais are imprisoned for drug offences and are given 30-40 years in prison without decent legal representatives to fight for them. Several I have spoken to are dazed. "My brother stored drugs in my house without me knowing but the police arrested me, not him."  is a typically pathetic story I have heard when talking to prisoners. Many could be released after 10 years but aren't. I spoke to some foreign shoplifters, and they were less than well-educated but got 10 years. Non-violent criminals should be getting parole, but they aren't.

[worgeordie]

With the hot weather soon to be upon us , with 40 -50 to a cell

it's going to become unbearable for anybody locked up in there,

do the crime and get locked up , but they should not be held in

those conditions ,

 

regards Worgeordie

 

[cdnvic]

Removed some posts that recklessly made accusations about Thai officials and other notable people. Not a smart thing to do.

[Ralf001]

 

5 hours ago, Packer said:

A new war on drugs. Execute anyone in possession of yaba on the spot. Lots of space in prison and society would be much safer and better as a whole. 

 

I have no issue with this... P'Thaksin was on the money back in his hey day.