krom rachathan (กรมราชทัณฑ์)

Thai. ‘Department of Corrections’. Thai government agency under the Ministry of Justice responsible for overseeing the national prison system and the rehabilitation of prisoners. In 2020, it managed some 144 prisons and other correctional facilities nationwide, housing over 374,000 inmates, the majority of whom are incarcerated for drug-related offenses. Among female inmates, approximately 79% are serving sentences for drug charges, contributing to Thailand having the second-highest female incarceration rate globally. The Thai prison system includes Remand Centers, Central Prisons (fig.), Provincial Jails, and specialized facilities for women and juveniles. Remand Centers are  for individuals awaiting trial or sentencing. Central Prisons handle inmates serving longer sentences and those requiring higher security (fig.), with the infamous Bang Kwang (บางขวาง) Central Prison housing high-risk offenders and death-row inmates. Provincial Prisons are located in regional areas and are for short-term prisoners and lower-risk inmates. Women's Correctional Institutions focus on female inmates and offer rehabilitation programs tailored to women. Juvenile Detention Centers are run by the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection for offenders under 18 years of age. Overcrowding remains a significant issue, exacerbated by strict drug laws, which contribute to a high incarceration rate for drug offenses. This overcrowding leads to inadequate living conditions, including insufficient space, inadequate sanitation, and meager food rations for inmates. To address these challenges, reforms have been introduced, including the reclassification of certain substances under drug laws. Other initiatives, such as vocational training, meditation programs, and royal pardons, aim to alleviate the strain on the system. Thailand also has agreements to transfer foreign inmates to their home countries, while alternative sentencing measures like probation and electronic monitoring with bracelets are used to reduce prison populations. The correctional officers wear a uniform known as as khreuang baep phu khum reuan jam (เครื่องแบบผู้คุมเรือนจำ). Officers tasked with the administrative side of corrections wear a uniform similar to that of civil servants known as chut kha radjakaan (fig.) worn for formal occasions and ceremonies. The prison warders administrative attire is beige in colour (fig.), with distinctive features and insignia, that denote the individual's rank which is displayed on black epaulettes, while additional insignia include ribbon racks arranged in a horizontal row above the left breast pocket. Above the right breast pocket, there is a black nameplate, and collar pins signify affiliation with the Department of Corrections. For operational duties such as general prison security, correctional officers typically wear a dark marine to greyish-blue battle dress-style uniform paired with combat boots. This utilitarian uniform prioritizes practicality and durability for active, hands-on tasks. It features a simplistic design with fewer decorative elements compared to the beige dress uniform and is made from sturdier materials with reinforced stitching. The ensemble may also include a beret or other functional headgear. Members of a specialized team, activated for riot control or emergency raids, wear black battle uniforms complemented by combat boots, bulletproof vests, and riot helmets. This team is equipped with tactical weapons to handle high-risk situations effectively. Depending on the task or location, alternative uniforms may also be used, such as a white shirt featuring insignia similar to the beige attire, paired with black trousers or a skirt. Another option is a more casual dark red polo shirt with a blue collar, accented with trims in the colours of the Thai national flag. When Thailand decommissioned and demolished its older prisons, portions of these structures, such as walls and watchtowers (fig.), were often preserved and repurposed, either integrated into parks or used to enhance street vistas (fig.). An entire cellblock from one such former prison in Bangkok was transformed into the Corrections Museum (fig.). See also TRAVEL PICTURES (1), (2) and (3), and POSTAGE STAMPS. 回