Super Security Prison Established: Thailand

[webfact]

SUPER MAX

Super security prison established

The Nation

BANGKOK: - The country's first super maximum security facility will be located in the Khlong Phai area of Nakhon Ratchasima's Sikhiu district.

The Corrections Department touts the project as a silver bullet to combat drug dealings inside prisons.

Suchart Wonganantachai, director-general of the department, said 60 per cent of the 1,000 high-profile drug-related convicts rounded up from around the country would be accommodated in solitary cells.

The 20 per cent not on the prime watchlist would be housed two per cell and the 20 per cent of the lowest-profile criminals would be kept six per cell.

All 1,000 prisoners will wear electronic tracking devices and detention management will be completely computerised.

"All inmates are detained in separate cells to minimise their contacts and possible transactions," he added.

Inmates convicted for separate roles in their dealings, for example, syndicate leaders, mules and coordinators, will be detained at separate prisons in a department policy to sort them out from many prisons. They would be regrouped in a major relocation plan being underway.

The first 221 high-profile offenders from various prisons will be sent to Khao Bin Prison in Ratchaburi until construction on the supermax penitentiary is completed within a year or two.

-- The Nation 2012-02-08

[Reasonableman]

"Fleeing Rice Detention Facility" now added to "Khao Khao (Rice Mountain) Detention Facility"? Is there a trend emerging? A new regional hub, perhaps?

[noitom]

It's hard to understand the wisdom of this project. Drug dealing in prison for use is a fact of life. They should start with the corruption of the guards and prison officals. Without that, there would be minimal drug "dealing." prison drugs are for consumption. The Thais seem to have a bigger problem and that is major traffickers maintaining their control of drug traffic on the outside. They do this with cell phones. Another The Nation article a few days ago highlighted that Nokia and iPhones go for as much as "50,000 baht" on the inside and there was a photo of eight guards searching a cell. How would something like this be possible, continual mass sales of branded cell phones?

This initiative to rapidly construct a super max facility, if Thais even know what that means, is preposterous. To start, 600 solitary cells with electronic tracking devices and a completely computerized network. Presumably, most of these high profile "traffickers" are industrial grade and essentially on death row. If not, is the purpose of these non-death row solitary max cells and sentences "rehabilitation?" What do the Thais propose to do about corruption? Drugs and human trafficking revenue in Thailand far exceeds the Thai government budget for many years. This max facility plan is all empty talk and Thai bluster. Why would they think that this would be effective now? It sure looks like going after bear with a pea shooter, a perfectly normal Thai approach.

[Pib]

Just tighten up security and root-out the corrupt prison guards/officials at the current prisions...I know, I know, easier said than done especially in Thailand.

Oh well, this new facility will create some construction jobs...and I fully expect a few years after construction they will convert all the private rooms to sardine can packed-type rooms like other Thai prisons, but for a while the prison would have made good political rhetoric.

[nikster]

It's hard to understand the wisdom of this project.

Not hard to understand at all, same as with all large building projects in Thailand: Somebody made a lot of money building that prison. Public money was successfully distributed into a lot of different pockets.

[sparebox2]

Why don't they put them on an island (like Australia or Alcatraz) so potential escape prison have to learn to swim first.

[Reasonableman]

Why don't they put them on an island (like Australia or Alcatraz) so potential escape prison have to learn to swim first.

Maybe too late for Australia and Alacatraz. How about Phuket? No need to move a lot of them, cos they are already there.

[ding]

Why don't they put them on an island (like Australia or Alcatraz) so potential escape prison have to learn to swim first.

Koh Pha Ngan maybe?

[stockholm1995]

There are cheaper and better solutions. let the military have drug dogs at the entrance and all the prison guards and visitors go through the metal detector. soldiers who work with it to have rotating schedule so that no one can figure out when a certain person working with the search. Install mobile jammer at all prisons so that no

can use mobile. record all outgoing calls made by landline telephones on prisons.

[Sailfish1]

They don't need a prison for drug dealers - they have the death penalty for those people.

[tragickingdom]

"Super" is as good as the least corrupt official. Given the fact that we are in a complete rotten chain from police, prosecutors, judges and wardens I put my money on it that it is only "super security" for those who do not have money.

[wxyz]

"The Corrections Department touts the project as a silver bullet to combat drug dealings inside prisons."

A silver bullet, are they werewolves?

Do they plan on locking up and executing the drug pushing correction officers?

Didn't think so.

Edited February 8, 2012 by wxyz

[Reasonableman]

"The Corrections Department touts the project as a silver bullet to combat drug dealings inside prisons."

A silver bullet, are they werewolves?

Do they plan on locking up and executing the drug pushing correction officers?

Didn't think so.

Don't the normal bullets work any more?

[GentlemanJim]

I was just wondering whom the land is being acquired from to build this behemoth? I am sure it is from existing Government owned land isn't it?? It is not possible that someone in Government or someone closely connected with Government owns this land is it? I always found that such a strange coincidence with the land that the new airport was built on

[wxyz]

Is the Bangkok Hilton forming a hotel chain?

Edited February 8, 2012 by wxyz

[khunken]

Given that few of the real bosses ( police & military) of drug-dealing mafias are not behind bars, this is just for show - Mr Chalerm's publicity craving.

With the corruption of the prison guards - who probably are so lowly paid that they need the 'extras' to exist and the - and the higher intelligence of the inmates, it won't be long before the 'super' prison is just like all the others.

[unanimosity]

It's hard to understand the wisdom of this project. Drug dealing in prison for use is a fact of life. They should start with the corruption of the guards and prison officals. Without that, there would be minimal drug "dealing." prison drugs are for consumption. The Thais seem to have a bigger problem and that is major traffickers maintaining their control of drug traffic on the outside. They do this with cell phones. Another The Nation article a few days ago highlighted that Nokia and iPhones go for as much as "50,000 baht" on the inside and there was a photo of eight guards searching a cell. How would something like this be possible, continual mass sales of branded cell phones?

This initiative to rapidly construct a super max facility, if Thais even know what that means, is preposterous. To start, 600 solitary cells with electronic tracking devices and a completely computerized network. Presumably, most of these high profile "traffickers" are industrial grade and essentially on death row. If not, is the purpose of these non-death row solitary max cells and sentences "rehabilitation?" What do the Thais propose to do about corruption? Drugs and human trafficking revenue in Thailand far exceeds the Thai government budget for many years. This max facility plan is all empty talk and Thai bluster. Why would they think that this would be effective now? It sure looks like going after bear with a pea shooter, a perfectly normal Thai approach.

Effective? When has effective ever entered the equation in LOS? Then again, it depends on who you ask. This project was very effective in enriching those who signed off on it, including the landowner, contractor, and IT vendor.

How odd that that the worse your crime the better your accommodations. Private rooms for the heavies; little lieutenants get stacked 6 to a room.

The gov dictates this kind of priority on eradicating drug use in prison while walking the streets ignoring clouds of cannabis smoke and the plethora of pills and blow available for the asking. So, the ones in jail are the trophy competitors of the connected.

Cleaning up drugs on the street is a lot of work and that just doesn't fit the law enforcement lifestyle. They didn't pay all that money to buy rank and be above the law in a position of law enforcement authority because they wanted to work.

The reason the prison was built is to counter the loss of face that easy drug availability in prisons represents. Economic, societal, medical, rehabilition, and human rights issues are all trumped by appearances--smoke and mirrors. Loss of face can come from the "victims" themselves. Authorities brought to light the drug dealing in prisons and spawned a surreptitiously self inflicted loss of face, thus creating the opportunity to appear justified in spending a ton of money to save Thailand's face by building a new prison.

[stoneyboy]

It's being made with the finest thai building materials as described in today news section.

Sent from stoney's iPad using ThaiVisa app

[unanimosity]

It's hard to understand the wisdom of this project. Drug dealing in prison for use is a fact of life. They should start with the corruption of the guards and prison officals. Without that, there would be minimal drug "dealing." prison drugs are for consumption. The Thais seem to have a bigger problem and that is major traffickers maintaining their control of drug traffic on the outside. They do this with cell phones. Another The Nation article a few days ago highlighted that Nokia and iPhones go for as much as "50,000 baht" on the inside and there was a photo of eight guards searching a cell. How would something like this be possible, continual mass sales of branded cell phones?

This initiative to rapidly construct a super max facility, if Thais even know what that means, is preposterous. To start, 600 solitary cells with electronic tracking devices and a completely computerized network. Presumably, most of these high profile "traffickers" are industrial grade and essentially on death row. If not, is the purpose of these non-death row solitary max cells and sentences "rehabilitation?" What do the Thais propose to do about corruption? Drugs and human trafficking revenue in Thailand far exceeds the Thai government budget for many years. This max facility plan is all empty talk and Thai bluster. Why would they think that this would be effective now? It sure looks like going after bear with a pea shooter, a perfectly normal Thai approach.

Effective? When has effective ever entered the equation in LOS? Then again, it depends on who you ask. This project was very effective in enriching those who signed off on it, including the landowner, contractor, and IT vendor.

How odd that that the worse your crime the better your accommodations. Private rooms for the heavies; little lieutenants get stacked 6 to a room.

The gov dictates this kind of priority on eradicating drug use in prison while walking the streets ignoring clouds of cannabis smoke and the plethora of pills and blow available for the asking. So, the ones in jail are the trophy competitors of the connected.

Cleaning up drugs on the street is a lot of work and that just doesn't fit the law enforcement lifestyle. They didn't pay all that money to buy rank and be above the law in a position of law enforcement authority because they wanted to work.

The reason the prison was built is to counter the loss of face that easy drug availability in prisons represents. Economic, societal, medical, rehabilition, and human rights issues are all trumped by appearances--smoke and mirrors. Loss of face can come from the "victims" themselves. Authorities brought to light the drug dealing in prisons and spawned a surreptitiously self inflicted loss of face, thus creating the opportunity to appear justified in spending a ton of money to save Thailand's face by building a new prison.

Further to the issue of a super prison, prosecuting drug dealers is designed by drug lords to eliminate rogue competitors in concert with law enforcement to yield trophies and justify their budgets. You don't see serious efforts to curb drug use by stiffening penalties for use. No, no, no, that would be messing with the customers. Yet, there is a smoke and mirrors mentality in all countries, owing to gov complicit propaganda campaigns, that drug eradication requires stemming the supply. What nonsense. But "official" propaganda specialists can manipulate public opinion in almost any direction they choose. The fantasy of stemming the supply is law enforcement euphoria. It justifies their very existence and budgets. Plus, it facilitaes selective enforcement to pressure informants and obtain search warrants and get RICO suspects into custody. If drugs were legal, all this would go away, especially the budgets. If drugs are to remain illegal, any country serious about eradicating the problem need only amp up the criminal penalties for use, which in most societies would evoke a loud reaction against such action by the customer voters and be political suicide for the elected representatives.

Perhaps, recreational drugs belong in the same distribution channels as hard liquor for the more mundane products, and pharmaceutical channels for the highly addictive and debilitating products. This should drive down both drug related crime and the billions of dollars budgeted to fight it. Some of that budget could be applied to distribution oversight and rehabilitation of drug abusers. Drug-sales-to-youth laws should prosecute dealers with minimum 30 year sentences without parole, and the same minimum sentences should apply to child molesters and abusers. There is no justification, political or otherwise, for the lackadaisical leniency most countries have in prosecuting crimes against children and young teens. A super prison is not the answer.

Edited February 8, 2012 by unanimosity

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

Why don't they put them on an island (like Australia or Alcatraz) so potential escape prison have to learn to swim first.

Maybe too late for Australia and Alacatraz. How about Phuket? No need to move a lot of them, cos they are already there.

Or Pattaya...

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

Smoke and mirrors...

[KRS1]

What is it with the Thaksin administration? They alwasy have to build something to get a commission from it.

Building a prison isn't going to stop anything, as mentioned above its the jailors and wardens that allow it to happen.

[Bagwan]

Time for TAT to get on the ball. This super-duper new prison would make a great tourist attraction. Have they ever considered selling tickets to witness the execution of drug dealers? 20 baht for Thais, 1000 baht for tourists.

[metisdead]

A nonsense post has been removed.

[mrtoad]

Surprised they've not anounced a "Prison Hub".

[noitom]

It's hard to understand the wisdom of this project. Drug dealing in prison for use is a fact of life. They should start with the corruption of the guards and prison officals. Without that, there would be minimal drug "dealing." prison drugs are for consumption. The Thais seem to have a bigger problem and that is major traffickers maintaining their control of drug traffic on the outside. They do this with cell phones. Another The Nation article a few days ago highlighted that Nokia and iPhones go for as much as "50,000 baht" on the inside and there was a photo of eight guards searching a cell. How would something like this be possible, continual mass sales of branded cell phones?

This initiative to rapidly construct a super max facility, if Thais even know what that means, is preposterous. To start, 600 solitary cells with electronic tracking devices and a completely computerized network. Presumably, most of these high profile "traffickers" are industrial grade and essentially on death row. If not, is the purpose of these non-death row solitary max cells and sentences "rehabilitation?" What do the Thais propose to do about corruption? Drugs and human trafficking revenue in Thailand far exceeds the Thai government budget for many years. This max facility plan is all empty talk and Thai bluster. Why would they think that this would be effective now? It sure looks like going after bear with a pea shooter, a perfectly normal Thai approach.

Further to this initial post, this article - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/281276-thailand-to-build-six-super-max-jails-for-drug-offenders/

appeared in July, 2009 and virtually says the same things as today's article. How ludicrous and preposterous. Maybe is 2015 another article will appear as a "revolutionary idea" - and we can then reprint the previous two pieces in 2009, and 2012 respectively. What a joke - the idea, the media coverage, the system, it's a complete sham.

[osiboy]

They don't need a prison for drug dealers - they have the death penalty for those people.

smoke anyone ? ,...or a beer ?...............hey , ......he's smoking dope !!, .......all LEGAL DRUGS in SOME PARTS of the world, .......are governments ever going to stop 2 of the most profitable ones ??? ..........how many people will drink and smoke all their lives cos it was /is acceptable to do so 20 yrs ago ? ... lets have the death sentence for govt; leaders everywhere for allowing THESE destructive and anti social drugs that lead to so many deaths and so much missery......far more than any 'a ' class drugs btw, but for some reason is acceptable , ........WHY ??; ?? Because,.....its a cash cow for any country , black money into the system is good money ....and more to go around the pyramid system of drug dealers keeps markets flowing, ..then ,caught by the cops who confiscate big moneys , and then we go around again , ... happened with alcahol during prohibition , no different from other drugs ,...my question is ;........who do we execute ?, governments or gangsters,.......or are they the same thing ?, ......mmmmmm,...........makes you think eh ??

Edited February 8, 2012 by osiboy

[wxyz]

Will it stop this?

Police in Nakhon Ratchasima caught two men, Phongkrit Thipkhokekruad 26, and Phong, 18, using a remote controlled plane to deliver mobile phones and equipment to inmates in Khlong Phai Prison.

http://www.thaivisa....ns-face-arrest/

or this?

"Phuket 'White Prison' raid reveals rectal stashing of telephones"

http://www.thaivisa....-of-telephones/

Edited February 8, 2012 by wxyz

[Ijustwannateach]

I'm sure once they move all the 'drug criminals' to this new prison, the other prisons (and probably all of Thailand) will no doubt be drug-free. How could it be otherwise?

[wxyz]

Maybe they should use it for these types, if they care about their own Buddhist statues.

"smashes Buddhist statues in national museum"

http://www.peopleofs...rs-smashes.html

Edited February 8, 2012 by wxyz