Alternative Development is being touted as a way to keep inmates from reoffending as well as offering them vocational skills

all present: The gate leading to the cells of Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok where inmates gather before the correctional staff pending the morning roll call. PHOTO: Pattanapong Hirunard

Since his thirties, 51-year-old prisoner Kai has been arrested three times for drug offences.

enterprise: Natnarin Niampradit, chairman of the Thai SME Trade Association, runs workshops on writing business models for prisoners. PHOTO: Kornchanok Raksaseri

He is an example highlighting one of the Justice Ministry's major problems: overcrowded prisons and reoffences by those convicted on drug charges.

Lack of acceptance from society and few opportunities to make a decent living are the main factors for reoffences, Kai told his mother.

"Ex-prisoners can have jobs, but the problem is it's hard to find jobs with career advancement opportunities such as being a company employee. When you have a criminal record, most companies will not hire you," Kai's mother said, recalling what her son, who is now detained in Rayong, told her.

"Many try to start their own business. If it succeeds, that's good, but many don't succeed, and they turn to selling drugs again," she said.

It's true that the desire to have a life of luxury and convenience pushes many to return to selling drugs.

Kai, a Sukhothai native, could not find a well-paid job. He could only get construction work and he did not get enough money to live the convenient life he wanted. Keeping contact with drug sellers, he went back to selling drugs with the hope he would not get caught again, but things did not pan out the way he imagined.

Alternative Development is being promoted by the ministry as a way to solve the problem since promoting a good quality of life for the people is believed to be an effective way to prevent crime.

Kanchana, 40, is one of the ex-prisoners and former drug dealers who chose a different path.

Meeting the smiling therapeutic masseuse and environmental conservationist nowadays, you would not have imagined her past.

Ten years ago, Kanchana was sentenced to 25 years in prison for having 10,000 methamphetamine tablets for sale.

From being a party animal and drug user, the demand to use the drug increased too much for her to afford. Finding the source of bulk sale and selling the drug was how she and her friends managed to consume the drug at lower prices.

"Following my friends and as greedy as I was, I was arrested at my apartment as the ya ba pills were kept there. Unfortunately, an innocent friend was visiting at the time and she got arrested too. She was in jail with me for five years before she proved her innocence. I feel very sorry and guilty about her," Kanchana said.

"But I am glad I was arrested and went to jail. I am a changed person now," she said.

Now she only wants to do legal jobs, stay with her family and contribute to society.

Kanchana learned Thai massage when she was in the Women's Correctional Institution in Chiang Mai. She now owns Leelawadee Massage in Mae Rim district, a business that earns her at least 700 baht a day, which she says she can comfortably live on.

QUALITY OF LIFE BEHIND BARS

The Women's Correctional Institution in Chiang Mai is one of the 10 Model Prisons nationwide that applies the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders, aka the Bangkok Rules, proposed by HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha to ensure suitable living conditions for female prisoners, especially pregnant women or those with newborn babies.

Besides the facilities that are suitable for feminine and maternal needs, the correctional institution prepares detainees for their smooth reintegration into society when they are released.

Meanwhile, making sure that the prison is not overcrowded and there is a good ratio of staff to prisoners increases the effectiveness of the correctional measures.

beyond these walls: The Department of Corrections provides various vocational training courses such as cooking, food carving, makeup and nail painting. PHOTOS: Pattanapong Hirunard

Once a detainee is sent to the correctional institution, they will have to enter a one-month familiarisation programme to learn about the regulations and discipline as well as the training provided at the institution, which includes basic education courses, language and recreation as well as short occupational courses.

The trainers are volunteers including the group of Natnarin Niampradit, chairman of the Thai SME Trade Association, who trains outgoing prisoners to draw up their own business models. "The prisoners' potential is amazing. They can learn very quickly. Many times they even propose better ideas than those who live in the outside world," he said.

PREPARING FOR REINTEGRATION

Prisoners who have less than three years and six months left of their term, and with a clean record without reoffending, will be eligible to work outside the prison.

Meanwhile, the preparation programme for reintegration will be provided for those who have only six months to one year left.

The 18 beds for body massage and seven chairs for foot massage at the Thai massage shop of the Women's Correctional Institution in Chiang Mai are always full throughout the day. From the 200 baht per hour fee, the prisoner will get half while the other half goes to the correctional institution to cover costs and operational fees.

Other occupational training and opportunities for the prisoners here include a weaving and fabric design, flower arrangement, a coffee shop and cooking.

Financial planning and management as well as King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Sufficiency Economy Philosophy are also offered.

BY CHOICE, BY HEART

"Now that I am out and happy with my life, I realise that what was instilled in me there, such as discipline and how to live a good life, are still with me and I can apply in real life," Kanchana recalled of her 10 years and seven months in jail.

From the background in accountancy, Kanchana during imprisonment applied for forestry course at the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. She was inspired by King Bhumibol.

"In the prison, I behaved myself and got a chance to help the staff in education. Year after year, I organised exhibition about King Bhumibol and gradually learned more and more about him. One day I decided to follow him and promised to do only what's right," she said.

Although she has no chance to pursue a career in forestry, she volunteers in related activities such as dam-building or tree-growing as well as other social activities every time she can.

muse of creativity: Prisoners with artistic talents paint the wall of Thon Buri Remand Prison, the first jail in the world to adopt the United Nations' Nelson Mandela Rules to improve the quality of life of prisoners since last year. PHOTO: Pawat Laopaisarntaksin

Like Kanchana, Oy, a 35-year-old ex-prisoner who spent three years at the institution and now owns an online flower shop, said the time in the correctional institution was similar to boarding school where she had opportunities to study many subjects, including flower arrangement and shoemaking.

Kanchana said she knew some ex-prisoners who re-committed the crime. But it was because they did not apply what they learned in the prison to their lives outside.

She said she steers clear of the old friends involved with drugs, focusing on her family, who will help her expand her massage business later this year.

ADJUSTING THE PLAN

Department of Corrections director-general Naras Savestanan said that according to criminology, criminals will compare their happiness and suffering from committing crimes.

"I think we have not provided enough happiness for them," he said adding that while calling on businesses to give ex-prisoners chances, businesses also deserve more incentives to hire them.

Wisit Wisitsora-at, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, said that the ministry provides individual plans for the prisoners, both inside and preparation for being outside, the prison.

"We need to change the mindset. Some people questioned why we should treat them [prisoners] better than the people outside?

"Think of them as patients. We need to help them. If you do not treat them well, they will never come outside," he said adding that juvenile facilities are crucial examples.

He said laws and regulations are being changed in support.

"In the past, probation volunteers must have clean records only. Now we changed and allow ex-prisoners to do the job. If you [Justice Ministry] do not believe in your own people, who will?" he said.

CHANGING THE LAWS

The Ministry of Justice has proposed changes to the laws related to punishment for drug offences. It is also pushing to change laws prohibiting ex-prisoners from doing certain jobs or owning certain businesses.

Vitaya Suriyawong, deputy permanent- secretary of the Ministry of Justice, points to the ministry's attempt to push for legal changes from the idea that putting drug sellers in jail for too long is not always good.

"We put 30,000 people in jail and hope there will be no offenders outside. That's impossible. A female drug seller must stay in jail for 20 years while a murderer can get out after 15 years. Which one is more frightening?," he said, pointing out the proportion of penalties and the severity of offences according to the law.

"We want to punish humans. Human have the ability to adapt. Initially, when they are put in jail, they feel uncomfortable, but if it's too long, they get used to it and don't feel anything. But imprisonment at that time destroys a human as when you get out of prison at 60, what can you do?," he said.

"If we punish offenders suitably, put them in jail only for them to serve bad consequences for some time and let them go, imprisonment can be more effective and will suit our new concept that prison is a place to leave, not to stay forever or to come back," he said.

ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT KEY TO PREVENTION

UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Executive Director Yury Fedotov:

Thailand is providing leadership in key global discussions related to justice reform, including in the area of prison reform through the Bangkok Rules for the Treatment of Women Offenders, which Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha has personally supported. In the Asean region, Thailand is partnering with the UNODC to help improve cross-border cooperation to address transnational organised crime. Thailand is playing an important role in promoting crime prevention and criminal justice to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. A good example of this is the High-Level Conference on Sustainable Development, Crime Prevention and Safe Societies, which I have the honour of opening with Her Royal Highness. Importantly, Thailand has also been a strong advocate for providing farmers with sustainable livelihoods away from illicit drug cultivation.