Judges hear about the benefits of electronic monitoring devices

[Lite Beer]

Judges hear about the benefits of electronic monitoring devices
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
The Nation

An official shows an electronic-monitoring device at a seminar for judges at a Bangkok hotel yesterday. This device, which is worn around an ankle, has already been introduced for juvenile offenders in some provinces.

BANGKOK: -- Electronic monitoring (EM) devices have emerged as an interesting alternative when judges consider punishments for drunk drivers, illegal road racers and other offenders.

At a Probation Department seminar yesterday, about 150 judges learned how the device can be used to administer punishment and what its many benefits are.

The department also noted that the devices could be used to ease prison overcrowding.

But the first judge who issued an EM order for an offender in Thailand focused more on the family benefits of the device and the possibility of it leading to improved behaviour.

"When I decide to impose the EM device on an offender, I focus on the fact that the EM can help tackle social problems," Criminal Court presiding judge Surajit Sriboonma said.

He said drunk drivers were prone to drinking every day and hardly had time for their family.

When such offenders are ordered to wear an EM device and have to stay home, they will automatically spend more time with their family, he said.

"The EM system can be a good way to solve social problems," he said.

"It can change the wearer's behaviour. Instead of hanging out late every night and coming home drunk, the wearer will be home and doing activi?ties with their family members.

"The use of the EM system will return a husband to a wife and a parent to a child."

Thailand has used the device since March in Bangkok and adjacent provinces.

There are just 200 devices currently, but the number will be increase to 3,000 in October when it is launched nationwide.

"When jailing suspects will do more harm than good, EM should be prescribed," Probation Department director-general Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol said.

Nathee Chitsawang, deputy director of Thailand Institute of Justice (Public Organisation), believes the EM devices should be used on female convicts most of the time as women generally flouted the law because of necessity.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Judges-hear-about-the-benefits-of-electronic-monit-30237783.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-05

[stubuzz]

"It can change the wearer's behaviour. Instead of hanging out late every night and coming home drunk, the wearer will be home and doing activi?ties with their family members.

Activities like.... drinking.

[ClutchClark]

"When such offenders are ordered to wear an EM device and have to stay home, they will automatically spend more time with their family, he said.

"It can change the wearer's behaviour. Instead of hanging out late every night and coming home drunk, the wearer will be home and doing activi?ties with their family members.

There are just 200 devices currently, but the number will be increase to 3,000 in October when it is launched nationwide."

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This is about the worst reasoning I have ever heard. A benefit would be that it keeps the drunk off the roads and it cuts down on the cost of incarceration but it does absolutely nothing to cut down on a persons alcohol consumption and it only increases the likelihood of Domestic Violence taking place and reinforcing negative behavior of irresponsible alcohol consumption in front of children.

I fear these devices will be issued disproportionately to the wealthy--further exacerbating the social problems of a have/have not society.

How will the data from these devices be used? What penalty will result if a wearer breaks the rules and leaves his domicile? Will he then be sent to prison?

[NongKhaiKid]

Thai courts have a habit of granting bail for a whole range of very serious offences yet drunk drivers seem to the focus of attention.

There are so many points to made starting with a change in the attitude of the BIB and their habit of allowing a driver to pay on the spot and drive on.

Judges should be imposing a mandatory lengthy disqualification with a proper record kept and jail time for anyone caught driving'

Unfortunately there is always the spectre of people being allowed to but their way out of trouble.

Electronic Monitoring has a place to play in judicial sentencing but this smacks of being yet another flash idea that sounds good.

[BSJ]

"The use of the EM system will return a husband to a wife and a parent to a child." I am pretty certain a lot of at risk woman would rather have the husband in gaol!

[londonthai]

those are in use in some countries for tens of years. Thailand catching up with technology? the whole 200 devices?

[doremifasol]

"It can change the wearer's behavior.

Instead of hanging out late every night and coming home drunk,

the wearer will be home and doing activities with their family members".

getting drunk in front of their family members"

Imposing the EM as a family therapist is a very creative idea.

[cloghead]

I hope these newfangled EM's have a decent battery life. Mine only lasted about 3-4 days before needing recharging...

I kept forgetting to charge it 'cause I was too stoned/drunk/lazy...

[timewilltell]

Judges hear about the benefits of electronic monitoring devices

Nathee Chitsawang, deputy director of Thailand Institute of Justice (Public Organisation), believes the EM devices should be used on female convicts most of the time as women generally flouted the law because of necessity.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Judges-hear-about-the-benefits-of-electronic-monit-30237783.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-05

Kn Nathee is misguided. Women flout the law for a whole variety of reasons, some the same reasons as men and others different. Women steal and commit fraud and take drugs the same as men do, maybe not to the same extent I grant.

Judges are at the receiving end of the failures of society, family and school to bring to maturity people with a sense of right and wrong, people with an understanding of their personal responsibility to themselves and society, people who are honest and have the skills to earn a living and themselves bring children into the world and bring them up properly.

What is the purpose of justice? Is it to punish to discourage as well as rehabilitate or is it just to rehabilitate? I subscribe to the former idea but countries over the last decades have progressed rapidly to the second idea. Crime is on the increase and jail is not the deterrent that it used to be - in Thailand maybe less so than in the more 'progressive' West.

Some crimes are minor, fitting these to curtail freedom at times has its values as the OP suggests. However other crimes in Thailand have almost become non-crimes anymore despite the damage to individuals and loss of life. Pouring boiling water over young non-Thai girls, running people down with cars, shooting people in nightclubs and restaurants all go unpunished. Thais who murder and rape get bail, foreigners who say a lawyer is corrupt and has cheated them gets bail and has his passport confiscated denying him the ability to work, travel and inconvenience from a minor to major level. Actually in breach of the international treaty a Thailand has signed but still ordered by the courts in blatant discrimination.

Perhaps there needs to be a trend shift in the whole mindset rather than playing with toys first. Meanwhile attention to the whole raft of failures outlined in my second paragraph would be laudable

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[Thai at Heart]

When such offenders are ordered to wear an EM device and have to stay home, they will automatically spend more time with their family, he said

Hahaha. While the missus absorbs 3 hours of soap operas. That's enough to drive anyone to drink

[graemeaylward]

Having been a Probation Officer in UK for nearly 40 years and well acquainted with most judicial sentences, I can say that EM has its place in the armoury of penalties available. However, it's designed as a restriction on liberty where offences occur because of criminal behaviour at certain times. E.g. public order offences. It has little impact on serious offenders such as drink drivers, armed robbers, drug dealers, sex offenders etc. and harsh sentences and treatment programmes need to be meted out on such offenders. Mandatory disqualification for drink driving plus a substantial fine plus alcohol awareness and safe driving courses would be a start for cutting down the carnage on the roads, not a cosy night in with the wife and family and a few beers!

Sent from my SM-N7502 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Robby nz]

Now if they had models that gave the wearer a serious whack every time they went outside pre programed activities.

For instance if someone who was banned from driving got into a car of on a motorbike...bang.

Could also incorporate a loud noise so everyone around knew.

[Bluespunk]

"It can change the wearer's behaviour. Instead of hanging out late every night and coming home drunk, the wearer will be home and doing activi?ties with their family members."

Yeah, right.

[surangw]

and looks like he does not know what is common info among criminals, the devices can be defeated with a layer of tin foil to block the signals

[BudRight]

Some versions of this device have continuous BAC monitoring.

[IBoldnewguy]

All politicians and policeman should be required to wear one.... if that works then move on to offenders....