Reform will break Thai system’s ‘punitive legacy’

Government and law experts discussed reforms of the justice and corrections system during a recent forum held by the Department of Corrections.

- JUTAMAS TADTHIEMROM

At the forum titled “110 Years of the Department of Corrections: From the Traditional Era to the Civilised Era”, held in Nonthaburi, Prof Tongthong Chandransu, adviser to the prime minister and former deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice, highlighted the depth of Thailand’s punitive legacy and the urgent need for reform.

He acknowledged that for over 50 years, society and institutions have held a deeply ingrained belief that offenders must suffer in return for their crimes, leaving little room for the idea of reform or reintegration.

This has resulted in prison overcrowding, high recidivism rates, and limited reintegration opportunities for former inmates, he noted.

As of July 2025, the prison population stands at 296,480 inmates, according to the Department of Corrections. Of that number, 211,138 are convicted prisoners. Most are incarcerated for drug-related offences, reflecting longstanding legal policies that prioritise incarceration even for minor or nonviolent drug offences over treatment or rehabilitation.

SUPPORT LACKING