Visitng Prisoners

[jonniebkk]

Since you speak about books (reading one about prisoners), one thing I have always heard is that foreign prisoners very much appreciate receiving language appropriate reading material. Be it books or magazines, as it surely helps them pass their endless days confinement.

By the way, if there is anyone reading this who visits the prisons in the Pattaya area and wants to take some books, I have a collection of around 30-40 paperbacks that I would be glad to get rid of.

[ClaytonSeymour]

No there wasn't a return, but he was the one who chose to break the law there. Their prison system is clearly a very hard environment, he should have thought about that when he was perpetrating his crimes - som nom na.

Unfortunately, prisoners in the UK are well taken care of. I'm in a reasonable mood today, but if I get started on that subject; that will change for sure.

Karma, Clayton. Wether you believe in it or not, you'd better hope its false. The day you or a loved one ends up in a harsh prison your tune will change dramatically. The people who are all about harsh treatment and 'I have no sympathy' are almost 100% those who have no experience or contact with the penal system they are talking about. Most prisoners, in all countries, have a documented history of legitimate mental issues to go with abject desperation. If you knew prisoners for who they are instead of the demons you make them out to be, you'd never speak the way you do.

No, I don't believe in Karma. If a family member of mine commits a crime & ends up in prison, I want them punished in a manner which befits the crime.

I dispute your argument that most prisoners have a history of legitimate mental issues, certainly the people I know who've ended up in prison, in trouble with the police etc. don't/didn't have mental issues. In today's liberal society, 'mental issues' have become a convenient excuse for a vast variety of things - including crime. I'm not interested in the 'desperation' of the prisoners, rather the misery which they inflict on others & mental issues or not, I'm more interested in the well being & protection of the honest & law abiding multitude - do the crime & do the proper time.

I apologise to the OP for making this further comment, but you (indiefan) asked for it.

[ClaytonSeymour]

I just read one of the Books by an Irish Guy who was inprisoned in Jail for 8 years here, i couldn't put the Book down & read it inside 5 hours.

Anyway, today i thought i'd have a look if there was any kind of support Groups for these people & found the below but my question is, has anyone ever visited anyone in Jail here, do you think it would be a good idea to or do you think it should be just left alone ??

I do think i'd like to do something good & make a few visits but wondered about others opinion & any one else's actual experiences..

Thanks for your replies.

http://www.phaseloop.com/foreignprisoners/...s-thailand.html

You are referring to Colin Martin's book: "Welcome To hel_l".

Incidentally after his release he returned to Thailand and went back to Klong Prem and visited a few of his fellow inmates who were still incarcerated.

His is a shocking story.

The bit I find shocking is he never admits in the book he killed the bodyguard - he admits only two went down the hill and only one came back up - was there guy's waiting in the middle of nowhere?

I actually think there was DEFINATELY more to the Story than the Book says. No mention fo the Guy even seeing a Knife, or a Knife getting puller or anything. Hss to make you wonder. He didn't even say that he didn't see a Knife, just simply no mention of one at all..

There was a lot missing in that book.

I remember it happening and being reported as I lived in Thailand at the time and some of the guy's ripped of with their redunancy had been from my part of the world and it was cleverly done as in the UK you can not charge to get people jobs so they did it out of Holland I believe.

One story I heard was Colin Martin was even involved in the original scam but got scammed himself by the Kiwi - then again that is Bangkok bar talk so holds no particular credence

How he is not PNG from Thailand I do not know after serving all that time

I am not sure what the criteria is to be labelled "PNG?" I had understood that prsioners who have served time for drugs and murder cases..... Anyone care to elaborate....?

clayton seymour - I am shocked at your true lack of compassion. I hope you never find yourself (inadvertently) on the wrong side of the law here, either in Thailand or Laos. It is so easy to judge isn't it.......

I save my compassion for those deserving it - the innocent victims of crime.

[Andiamo]

Since you speak about books (reading one about prisoners), one thing I have always heard is that foreign prisoners very much appreciate receiving language appropriate reading material. Be it books or magazines, as it surely helps them pass their endless days confinement.

By the way, if there is anyone reading this who visits the prisons in the Pattaya area and wants to take some books, I have a collection of around 30-40 paperbacks that I would be glad to get rid of.

Yes jonniebkk, the above is true. If nobody contacts you, you could always call the Prison in Pattaya and ask who the relevant person is who deals with foreigner visits, and you could drop them off.... or contact is it Barry in Pattaya? (The British Embassy contact there for info if you are British?).

I am sure the foreign prisoners would really appreciate any reading material to help them pass the time.

Good on you mate.

Edited May 28, 2008 by Andiamo