Thai Justice Ministry eyes new prisons

[webfact]

Ministry eyes new prisons
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri yesterday revealed a plan to seek Cabinet approval for a Bt30-billion budget to build 42 new prisons nationwide.

In a bid to curb prison overcrowding, the ministry also seeks to issue a regulation suspending the remaining sentences of elderly inmates and of those prisoners who have served at least two-thirds of their terms.

Measures would also be implemented to help reduce the number of people sentenced to prison terms, he added.

Corrections Department chief Suchart Wong-anantachai said the 42 new prisons would include some "super max" high-security prisons to house serious offenders such as key drug dealers.

Regarding a plan to privatise some prisons, Suchart said some firms with expertise could be used to assist in the detention of defendants awaiting their final trials, as well as pregnant inmates.

Stricter monitoring of drug-dealing activities at 17 high-security prisons had seen drug dealers resort to throwing or airlifting - by remote-controlled toy aircraft - cell phones over prison walls to inmates in Nakhon Ratchasima's Khlong Phai and Ratchaburi's Khao Bin prisons, Suchart said.

Despite the stepped up monitoring, cell-phone smuggling into prisons continued, he said, with smartphones fetching Bt100,000 each and iPhones costing Bt300,000. Normal phones cost from Bt5,000 to Bt30,000, he said.


-- The Nation 2013-10-17

[Robby nz]

Eying them from the inside.

If all the MP's and those in cabinet positions who are presently on bail or awaiting charges heard against them were to be found guilty then they are going to need them.

[tomross46]

Housing Units for persons that do not understand who is running the government.

[jaltsc]

All I have been reading for the past year is how the government is eliminating crime and corruption. So, how come the need for 42 new prisons? If they are telling us the truth, shouldn't they be tearing down the existing prisons?

[oxo1947]

Stricter monitoring of drug-dealing activities at 17 high-security prisons had seen drug dealers resort to throwing or airlifting - by remote-controlled toy aircraft - cell phones over prison walls to inmates in Nakhon Ratchasima's Khlong Phai and Ratchaburi's Khao Bin prisons, Suchart said.

Its real fantasy stuff isn't it---when I used to prison visit some 12 years ago, I was often received a phone call--& was asked for money for phone calls--they told me, the guards would set the timer and charge 10baht per minuet to use there phone to contact wives / GF ..etc

[fab4]

All I have been reading for the past year is how the government is eliminating crime and corruption. So, how come the need for 42 new prisons? If they are telling us the truth, shouldn't they be tearing down the existing prisons?

Well to be perfectly honest it's best to have the new prisons built before you tear down the old ones, otherwise there's no need for prisons at all, as there'll be no prisoners left.

Anyway haven't you heard Thailand is a dictatorship, the prisons are to be filled with all those convicted of thought crimes, honest.

[Jim walker]

They will need all the prison space they can get if people are going to prison for bad thought crime.

[Bkungbank]

It's good idea as currently over crowded when it come to sleeping space, it's more humane to treat them as human too.

[siampolee]

fab4 post # 6

Anyway haven't you heard Thailand is a dictatorship, the prisons are to be filled with all those convicted of thought crimes, honest.

At last you're seeing the light regarding the policies of this puppet government and the crushing of any opposition to its puppet master, his family and their brown nosing acolytes

[hellodolly]

It is time for Thailand to step up it's humane treatment of prisoners. this is a statement aimed at all parties.

Prisons were in the west initially set up to separate criminals from society not to punish them or rehabilastate them. They have lost that now. But they do not treat them like animals as many of them in Thailand are done.

Build humane prisons and give sensible sentences. Many minor drug charges spend more time in prison than people convicted of murder if they are not given a parole before they even step foot in the prisons. Start to use the ankle monitors and set the system up properly to begin with and swift punishment if disobeyed.

The technology is out there and so is the social technology. Start to use both wisely.

Yes I know this is Thailand but that is a plus they are very good at copying.

[transam]

Wonder who they are for. Has corruption finally being dealt with.

[stoffel45]

Anyone remember when Banharn Silpa Acha (aka Banharnburi) made a fortune in building Police stations when he was PM?

[anon467367354]

a private prison is like a hotel, it needs occupants to make a profit. They did that in the USA and judges were getting paid to convict and sentence innocent people to jail.

I can see it being a lot worse here.

[cocopops]

a private prison is like a hotel, it needs occupants to make a profit. They did that in the USA and judges were getting paid to convict and sentence innocent people to jail.

I can see it being a lot worse here.

Well, one or two... But your point stands - crazy to set up a situation where there exist private businesses with a vested interest in jailing more and more people.

Factor in harsh sentences for fairly trivial drug offenders and you can more or less guarantee they will be filling these new prisons faster than they can build them.

[belg]

the smart phones in prisons

seems to be in the same price range as the electronic clocks in parliment or governement buildings? only 20x inflate price

[bigbamboo]

I guess they could always save some money by building prisons on land where those phantom police stations were supposed to go.

[hellodolly]

I guess they could always save some money by building prisons on land where those phantom police stations were supposed to go.

Now I really like that and they could use the same contractors.

Mods you see the need for a that's funny button.

[mrtoad]

They will need these in place for reeducation of those convicted of thought crimes. The dictatorship is gearing up.

Edited October 17, 2013 by mrtoad