Thai Justice Ministry creating inmate DNA database

[webfact]

Justice Ministry creating inmate DNA database
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 12 -- Thailand's Ministry of Justice is creating a DNA database of all prisoners in the Thai penal system, with DNA data to be incorporated into inmates' criminal records to be used in tracking them after their release.

The plan is intended make sure that criminal offenders do not commit the same crime twice and to ensure better safety for society at large.

Deputy Permanent Secretary of Justice Pol Maj Dusadee Arawuit, who is in charge of drug eradication within prisons, announced that he has held talks with the Department of Corrections and Justice Minister General Paiboon Khumchaya, all of whom have approved the creation of an inmates' DNA database.

The ministry is currently training officers from 64 prisons and the Central Institute of Forensic Science in the new measure, and plans to propose the idea to ministry officials soon.

The measure would require a budget of about Bt160 million annually, at an average cost of Bt5,000 for testing and tracking each inmate.

The calculation use the number of prisoners released or on parole, to around 30,000 inmates annually.

Pol Maj Dusadee said the DNA database would help ensure a safer society, as the data could be used to identify suspects who might commit the same crime again.

At present, he said, the Corrections Department has collected fingerprints of inmates before they were sent to prison to verify their identities and prevent the release of the wrong person from jail.

However, some prints could turn out to be unclear and DNA collection would be better evidence than fingerprints, he said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-11-12

[RustBucket]

What's the point when they rig the tests and the results?

[JOC]

Wonder if politicians, past and current, will be included in DNA database??

They seem to be committing the same crimes over and over again with impunity!!

[worgeordie]

Whats the betting,this is going to solve so many unsolved cases the

BIB has on their books.

regards worgeordie

[jaltsc]

"The measure would require a budget of about Bt160 million annually, at an average cost of Bt5,000 for testing and tracking each inmate."

Have to give credit to the Ministry of Justice. They probably read the articles about drug testing for welfare recipients in the U.S. It wound up that there was a much lower percentage of drug use among the recipients than in the general population. It was a total waste of money.....EXCEPT for the the contracted services providing the tests. They made a fortune.

But, not in Thailand. This is an above board program and no officials or drug testing services will benefit from the Bt 160 million for administering these tests...And...Why do they have to spend money to track the inmates? They already know where they are...In prison.

Or perhaps, it will be easier to plant DNA evidence now that they have a complete set of samples of people with past criminal records.

Edited November 12, 2014 by jaltsc

[EricBerg]

Good thing! In quite a few countries innocent people could be released from prison based on DNA material. And quite a few criminals got caught by matching DNA too, at times even years after the crimes. When things are up and running similar results will be seen in Thailand.

[SoFarAndNear]

Another step to a police state. Unfortunalty the police in this country has not the best reputation.

[doremifasol]

Finally. I like this.

[recycled]

What's the point when they rig the tests and the results?

Hit the nail on the head, saves me posting my rant.

[expat_4_life]

Whats the betting,this is going to solve so many unsolved cases the

BIB has on their books.

regards worgeordie

Wonder if we'll also see some old cases reopened on appeal to potentially free people that were wrongly convicted.

[Torrens54]

Good thing! In quite a few countries innocent people could be released from prison based on DNA material. And quite a few criminals got caught by matching DNA too, at times even years after the crimes. When things are up and running similar results will be seen in Thailand.

This is a classic example of a "WIN, WIN" Situation. Congratulations to all involved in introducing the scheme.

[Ulic]

The only real question is why did it take so long.

[CapFarmer]

I can see how it would handy to have a drawer full of DNA evidence, just in case a "suspect" was ever needed to solve a case quickly.

[maidee]

2014 ... and they still did not have a DNA database

i guess the same goes for a database with drug testing from inmates...

oh my god, so 3rd world country

and still ... we have billionaire generals, more than in other any country

Edited November 14, 2014 by maidee