IMPROVING THE REINTEGRATION OF OFFENDERSINTO THE COMMUNITY:
THE CURRENT SITUATION OF THAI CORRECTIONSSomphop Rujjanavet*
I. INTRODUCTION
Placing offenders in custody alone is not sufficient to solve the problem of crime. Imprisonment only
temporarily removes criminals from the community. Most prisoners are freed and many of them relapse into
the cycle of crime afterwards. The ultimate goal of corrections is offenders’ successful reintegration into thecommunity. Unsuccessful reintegration and recidivism have been alarming problems confronting the
Department of Corrections. Previously, there were hardly any pre-release programmes, preparation or
support provided for prisoners. After the key purpose of the system was shifted from punishment to that ofrehabilitation, the Department of Corrections has been committed to the principle of through care and has
implemented various rehabilitation initiatives to generate safe and successful re-entry into the community.

II. PRISON POPULATION & NUMBER OF RECIDIVISTS
A. Prison Population
Chart 1: Prison Population 1997 - 2006
300,000

245,973
250,000
210,395

244,397
200,000

217,697

166,760

199,673
150,000

162,293

164,451

154,486
100,000

125,955

50,000

0
1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Regarding the overall statistics of the last decade, from 1997 – 2002 Thailand experienced a dramatic
growth in the total number of prison inmates, rising from 125,955 in 1997 to 245,973 (the highest figure on
record) in 2002. Since then, after the moment of crisis, the rate has seen an annual gradual decline. As ofJanuary 2007 about 154,486 inmates are incarcerated in 139 correctional institutions throughout the country.

* Director of Academic Group of Correctional Study, Department of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, Thailand.

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Chart 2: Number of sentenced and remand prisoners in Thailand(as of 12 January 2007)
Unsentenced Prisoners
28%

Sentenced Prisoners
72%

In Thailand, an unsentenced inmate or remandee means a person who is awaiting investigation or
awaiting trial or pending appeal. As of 12 January 2007, of all 154,486 prisoners in Thailand, the average
number of remand and sentenced inmates was 41,960 (28%) and 111,114 (72%) respectively. Compared to
the figures for July 2005, this reflects a growing number of remand inmates, which at that time stood at 25%(41,194) of all 162,293 inmates.

Chart 3: Number of male and female prisoners in Thailand(as of 12 January 2007)
Female Prisoners
16%

Male Prisoners
84%

At present, the number of female prisoners in Thailand is approximately 23,816 (approximately 15.5% of
the total number) while the number of male prisoners stands at 130,670. In contrast to the statistics of thelast 12 months, the numbers show a slight decline of about 1%. Next year it is expected that it should stay
constant, in the range of 15 – 16%.
The Department encountered an overcrowding crisis in 2002 when the total number of prisoners reached245,973. This number has been gradually decreasing, and it could be said that by comparison, the current
total number of prisoners (154,486) is not considered to constitute an overcrowding situation. Furthermore,
the overall extended capacity of all correctional facilities allows a possible 205,436 inmates to beaccommodated. As a result of the reduction in the number of prisoners, the Department can shift theorganizational policies to focus mainly on the sustained improvement of prisoner standards of living, basedon respect for humanity.
However, the growing difficulty that the Department of Corrections is encountering is the unequal
dispersion of prisoners which in turn creates mass imprisonment in only some areas. A good example of thisis the number of prisoners in Bangkok which is more overcrowded than other regions due to a large numberof remand prisoners who cannot be moved to other facilities outside Bangkok until they are convicted incourt. Apart from this situation in Bangkok, correctional institutions having an overcrowding problem mustmove prisoners to other facilities which have the standard of space designated as sufficient by the Thai
Department of Corrections.

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B. Number of Recidivists
Table: 1 Number of Convicted Prisoners Classified by Instances of Imprisonment(as of October 2006)
Instances of Imprisonment

Male

Female

Total

Percentage

First-time Offender

79,966

15,36895,334

86.02

Second-time Offender

9,628

1,428

11,056

9.98

Third-time Offender

2,359

230

2,589

2.34

Fourth-time Offender

987

94

1,081

0.98

Fifth-time Offender or more

740

27

767

0.69

Total Number of Multiple Instance
Offenders

13,714

1,779

15,493

13.98

Total

93,68017,147

110,827100

As of October 2006, the number of convicted prisoners in Thai correctional institutions who were
imprisoned for the first time was 95,334 (86.02%) of all 110,827 convicted inmates. The number of offenders
with multiple instances of imprisonment was 15,493 or about 13.98% of all convicted inmates.

Table 2: Number of Re-Offending Convicted Prisoners
October 2005 – September 2006
Type of Offence

Male

Female

Total

Percentage

Offence against Property

547

18

565

35.60

Offence against Life

23

-

23

1.45

Offence against Bodily Harm

69

1

70

4.41

Offence against Sex

32

-

32

2.02

Offence against Social Security

8

-

8

0.50

Note: 1. The number of released prisoners from October 2003 – September 2004 was 78,360
2. The number of released prisoners from October 2004 – September 2005 was 24,961

From October 2003 – September 2005, the total number of released prisoners was 103,321. The numberof reoffending convicted prisoners from October 2005 – September 2006 was 1,587 or about 1.53% of all
released prisoners during two fiscal years. In addition, drug offenders still represent the majority of all
released prisoners in Thailand who reoffended and were reimprisoned. The number stood at 791 (49.84%).

III. POLICY FRAMEWORK
It is widely recognized that mechanisms to enhance the chances of an offender’s reintegration into
society are an essential part of any strategy to reduce recidivism. The word reintegration appears to assume
that the offender was well integrated in society prior to his or her imprisonment. The idea of reintegration iswell recognized by the Department of Corrections as it widely appears in many of its formal documents. An
example of this is the Department’s vision statement “to become an outstanding agency in ASEAN
countries on the treatment of offenders and to return productive citizens into society”. In addition, several
strategies specified in the Department’s five-year strategic plans (2004 - 2008), such as the promotion of
public and private sector involvement and the improvement of treatment of offenders as well as thecollective strength to overcome substance abuse, are all put into action to prepare both the community andprisoners to achieve the common goal: smooth reintegration of offenders.

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Since 2002, emphasis has been placed on the development of effective rehabilitation programmes toaddress the special needs of different types of prisoners, such as sex offenders and violent offenders. In sodoing, the Prisoner Rehabilitation Programme Development Centre has been established with responsibility
for developing model rehabilitation programmes and providing resources and training for prison staff incharge of instructing rehabilitation programmes. Many schemes, including the Annual Rehabilitation
Programme Contest have been launched to encourage more innovations in the area. More importantly, a key
performance indicator has been set so that every facility must select at least one model rehabilitation
programme to be applied to its setting.

IV. KEY FOCUS AREAS
Before designing any strategies on prisoner reintegration, it is a good idea to first identify factors that arelinked to relapse and desistance. The Department of Corrections has focused on four elements in developing
appropriate programmes and service for prisoners. First, released prisoners have similar essential needs, forexample, accommodation, employment and good family relationships, as do other people. Second, apart fromessential needs, a number of prisoners also have criminogenic needs that require specific treatment
programmes. Third, even if prisoners are adequately prepared for release, reintegration can never be
successful unless there is community acceptance of offenders returning to the community. Fourth, thecontinuity of service delivery has to be taken into account to ensure that released inmates do not fall throughthe gaps of service provision. Based on these elements, rehabilitation programmes and services are
therefore implemented with the key focus placed on the areas of inmates’ essential needs, criminogenic
needs, community acceptance and continuity of support.

V. FOSTERING REINTEGRATION
A. The Period in Prison
Offenders are sent to prison not only temporarily as a punishment for their wrongdoing, but also toreceive the rehabilitation necessary to address their needs and problem behaviour before being released in
the community. In the Thai Corrections System, prison is something more than just bricks and bars, rather
the facility has been converted into prisoners’ homes where various meaningful activities to target
offenders’ criminogenic needs take place.
1. Home of Intellect
Being marginalized and disadvantaged in terms of education is a factor connected to offending. During
incarceration, inmates can attend educational programmes, provided in three categories, appropriate for
their interest and skills.
• Formal Education
Starting from illiterate level to primary level, which is compulsory education in Thailand, prisoners
can choose to continue their secondary level schooling through the adult curriculum in prisons. They
can even study in undergraduate programmes provided by Sukhothai Thammathirat Open
University.
•

Vocational Education
With close co-operation from the Department of Vocational Education and the Department of NonFormal Education, various types of vocational education programmes are provided for prisoners inevery prison facility. Most programmes emphasize enhancing work skills for life after release andshort-term training. The prisoners who pass the exams receive a Vocational Certificate or an
Advanced Vocational Certificate for their study and practice.

•Non-formal Education
Apart from formal and vocational education, prisoners are also allowed to study according to theirown interest. Many prisons hold special study programmes such as short-term computer courses,
computer or engine repair courses, boy scouts and girl guides training, and the “Art for All”
programme.

Moreover, their time can be spent productively by learning and researching in Prom Panya Library,which was initiated by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhon, who graciously considered that prisoners

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should have the learning opportunity afforded by a standard library that contains numerous and various
books, with a librarian to give advice and essential assistance. The Prom Panya Library project was firstestablished in 2003 at Thanyaburi District Prison and then in other prisons across the country. The project
has been supported by Matichon Newspaper, which is the main organization drawing public interest tocontribute new books to Prom Panya Library. By 2008, there will be 103 libraries all over the country. At
present, the Crown Princess has presided over the opening ceremony of the Prom Panya Library at four
correctional facilities. In addition, they are allowed to self-study using a range of learning materials, such as
computers and CD-ROMs supplied in the Knowledge Centre, which is being established in every prison.
2. Home of Rehabilitation
There are three kinds of rehabilitation programmes in practice. Firstly, the Fundamental Programme, an
education programme similar to that provided by the Home of Intellect Strategy, is operated with theintention to provide inmates with sufficient education and skills. Secondly, Rehabilitation Programmes for
specific types of offender are also conducted to adjust prisoners’ attitudes and behaviours by employing
various therapeutic modalities, such as musical, art and family therapy. Lastly, Welfare Programmes,
including treatment programmes for the elderly and initiatives for prisoners with physical and mental healthissues are implemented to maintain offenders’ safe and sound custody.
3. Home of Sport and Recreations
Several kinds of sport and recreations are offered in prisons for at least two reasons. As imprisonment
can cause considerable stress and tension, playing sports can keep inmates mentally and physically fit.
Additionally, inmates can learn favourable interpersonal skills and sportsmanship through sport andrecreational activities.
4. Home of Dharma
Recognizing that religion is an important factor in improving inmates’ mental status, every correctional
facility provides opportunity to all inmates to practice their religious activities without discrimination. Since
most of inmates in Thailand are Buddhists, there are several Buddhist activities arranged in the facilities;
the “Prison as Home of Dharma for Inmates” programme is one among them. For five days and four nights,
inmates have time to perform religious activities, to pray, and meditate supervised by professional
preachers. The programme aims to keep the inmates calm and to help them regain consciousness.
Several factors are necessary for the success of the aforementioned programmes. First of all, inmates areprovided with careful and thorough preparation for their re-entry, thanks to a wide variety of education
programmes, ranging from computer to business administration, which are offered from elementary toundergraduate level. For that reason, inmates should find something they are interested in to keep
themselves occupied and equipped with knowledge and skills necessary for their future work. Another key
to success is the support, love and understanding that inmates receive from their families, who areoccasionally invited to participate in family activities held inside prison. Furthermore, despite facing afinancial constraint and overcrowding, the initiatives are deemed to be successful because of the tremendous
support received from outside agencies.

B. Staged Release to the Community
Aimed to bridge the period of transition of offenders between prison to the community, three schemes
have been put into operation.
1. Vivat Polamuang Rajatan School Project
The project is a four-month intensive treatment programme specially provided to classified prisoners
who can receive special parole after finishing the school programme. The curriculum has been applied fromthe military’s Vivat Polamuamg School which provides intensive treatment programmes for drug addicts.
Short-term vocational training, behavioural change and disciplinary training have been added to theprogramme in order to help them to resettle during their conditional release. At the end of the programme,
prisoners passing the evaluation would receive special parole and return to the community as decent
citizens. Since 2003, there have been about 2,700 inmates graduating from the school.

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2. Pre-release Program
Every prison facility runs Pre-release Programs twice a year for inmates whose remaining term is lessthan six months. It aims at fostering successful reintegration and reducing the chance of reoffending. The
emphasis has been on inmates’ basic and cognitive skills shortfalls to build up their immunity to crime.
Thus, offenders are provided with education and job training as well as behavioural skills, such as living andparenting skills.
3. Pre-release Centre
Currently, there are 10 Pre-release Centres being operated in correctional institutions countrywide.
Convicted prisoners whose remaining sentence term is not more than five years and who have agricultural
backgrounds will be voluntarily classified and transferred to Pre-release Centres located in the prison
region. At this service hub, an array of support and services, formerly fragmented, are integrated in one
place, facilitating ease of prisoners’ access to services that match their personal needs.
In relation to early release, two parole systems have been implemented in the Thai Correctional System;
Regular and Special Parole. The former is to be granted to inmates who have served at least one third of
their whole sentence and those who have served not less than ten years of a life sentence. The latter is a
special scheme introduced for a certain type of prisoner, such as inmates with disabilities, the elderly andthose who complete intensive treatment programmes from Vivat Polamuang Rajathan School. Both systems
allow well-behaved inmates who have high chance of reintegration to restart their new lives in thecommunity, under some forms of supervision or monitoring, more quickly. Not only can a condition imposedwith parole ensure public safety, it also helps ex-prisoners in maintaining acceptable behaviour until theysuccessfully settle in the mainstream community. However, only a little research has been conducted on the
success of the parole system.

C. Removing Hurdles
Several efforts have been made to minimize the effect of the stigma confronting most prisoners and toenhance the acceptance of ex-prisoners by employers. At the moment, these attempts have been put
forward only unofficially by means of promoting employers’ positive attitudes towards released prisoners
and encouraging them to give these wrongdoers another chance. Some MOUs have been signed between
the Department and other agencies regarding the provision of post-release service for ex-offenders; forexample, there is such an agreement between Pattaya Remand Prison and Nong-pla-lai Sub-District Local
Administration.
This memorandum will enhance co-operation between prison and local government agencies to support
prisoner reintegration into the community. In addition, prison labour contracts will be signed between thelocal government offices and the prison to employ prisoners for public works such as drain cleaning,
repairing local roads and small construction projects in the areas where prisons are located. Prisoners will
receive some remuneration for this work when they are released. Moreover, members of the community
will be assigned as volunteer social workers to provide aftercare service such as home visits, counsellingand employment to released inmates, ex-inmates and their families.
Furthermore, the Department of Corrections always urges prisons to seek job placements for theirinmates by establishing networks with local labour markets and other relevant agencies. However, the mostimportant key for ex-prisoners to secure a job is perhaps their own knowledge and skills. Hence, it isimportant that prison vocational courses must be tailored to meet market needs and that inmates’ skills andtalent gained in prison are acknowledged by outside people.

D. Preparing the Community
For the success of reintegration, preparing the community is as important as preparing inmates. All of thehard work and rehabilitation in prison will be in vain if ex-prisoners are rejected by their respective
communities on re-entry. In Thai jurisdiction, several initiatives have been incorporated to promote
community acceptance.
1. Inmate Teacher ProjectOn special occasions, such as the Annual Prison Product Exhibition, skillful inmates are brought outside

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to teach in career training classes provided free of charge for interested people. More than just a showcase
for inmates to demonstrate their skills, the project renders their confidence in earning a living after releaseand also improves public attitudes towards prisoners.
2. Community Service Scheme
Appropriate prisoners are sent outward on a daily basis to work for the local community. Participating inthis scheme, inmates learn how to work as a team and that they should do something for other people to
make up for their wrongdoing. The scheme directly contributes to public forgiveness for inmates andgrowing community acceptance.
This year the Department of Corrections implemented a new project titled “Enhancement of Traffic
Service and Accident Prevention during New Year Break”. Between 27 December 2006 and 5 January 2007
with the collaboration of three agencies, namely the Department of Corrections, the Highway Police
Constabulary and the Vocational Education Council of the Ministry of Education. The project aims to reduce
loss of life and property from traffic accidents and to prevent other crimes. This is also a chance for prisoners
to serve the community and for the community to accept the offenders. Around 400 well-behaved convictedprisoners from 18 correctional facilities were sent to eight Highway Police Service Stops spread across thenortheastern and central region of Thailand and the Bangkok area. These prisoners assisted with traffic
services, engine repair, first-aid units and foot massage parlours.
3. Restorative Justice Approach
A pilot initiative has been launched to apply the Restorative Justice Approach to a prison setting. It aims
at encouraging offenders to feel remorse, to accept responsibility for their actions and to seek ways torestore the harm done to victims and the community. The ultimate goal of this programme is satisfaction andunderstanding of all stakeholders, with which it is hoped to finally achieve an improved community
acceptance of ex-prisoners.

E. Continuity and Inter-Agency Collaboration
The collaboration of relevant agencies is essential in ensuring the continuity of service, which is key toboosting offenders’ chance of resettlement. Also, co-operation of every sector of the community is vital
since offender reintegration demands a great deal of resources and is a complex task that is unlikely to beaccomplished by a single agency. Considering the importance of collaboration, the Department ofCorrections always seeks opportunities to establish partnerships with both government and nongovernment agencies.
1. Skill Support and Safe Reintegration Project- SSSRThis project is a good example of how successful inter-agency collaboration can produce effective
prisoner intervention. The project is carried out in five locations to target inmates who attend Vivat
Polamuang Rajathan School. The project provides skill-based services, such as job training, and also
addresses other survival needs by granting inmates loans that can be used to start their own small
businesses.
In launching this project, partnerships were formally built by 11 Memorandums of Understanding signed
between Department of Corrections and other public and private agencies that provide post-release service,
such as employment and personal financial management organizations. These service providers work
closely together to set up a service plan for inmates. As a result, it can be ensured that inmates can start
making use of services in prison and, once released, are referred to an appropriate post-release service
according to the plan.
The active involvement of every sector of the community is highlighted and makes the project sooutstanding that it received The President’s Award from the International Corrections and Prisons
Association (ICPA). The award ceremony took place during the 7th ICPA Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland,in November 2005.

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VI. CONCLUSION
The diversity of offenders’ needs and risks makes the transition from custody to community a complex
task. In response to this complexity, the Department of Corrections is aware that innovations have to becontinually injected into its through care service delivery. Its latest innovation is an initiative based on HM
King Bhumibol’s Philosophy of Sufficient Economy, which provides for his people guidance on appropriate
conduct aimed at sufficiency, self-containment and a self-supporting lifestyle. The project focuses onproviding inmates with advice on how to adapt the theory to several aspects of life, so that they will be able
to protect themselves from harm and to handle challenges arising from today’s changes in the outercommunity.
Another recently developed project is a rehabilitation programme for inmates whose alcohol use is linked
to their offending behaviour. Underpinning the project is the idea that if the alcohol issues of this group ofinmates are not suitably addressed, alcohol, despite not being an illicit drug, will continue to pose serious
harm to the community. At the beginning of this fiscal year, the pilot project will be starting in two prisonsand will be adopted in other facilities subsequently.
A variety of prisoner interventions discussed throughout this paper should accurately reflect a genuine
commitment of Department of Corrections to provide meaningful rehabilitation programmes, aiming tofacilitate smooth and successful reintegration. In this regard, the Department believes that when both
inmates and their community are sufficiently prepared, the outcome will be worthwhile as ex-prisoners’chances of reoffending will be minimized and public safety will be enhanced. As a service provider, theDepartment of Corrections will be especially proud that its clients eventually manage to establish
themselves as decent citizens in the community.

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