PHUKET: Construction is to begin next month on a new international-standard jail for Phuket, the existing island prison's Commander, Pichit Wannajit, told Phuketwan today.
''The new jail will cost 796 million baht and take three years to complete in central Phuket, with accommodation for 1500 inmates,'' Commander Pichit said. ''Construction begins in August.''
The old jail in Phuket City, built more than a century ago to house 750 prisoners, now hosts 2940 men and women in conditions that can only be described as extreme.
With as many as 300 male prisoners squeezing into each of the ancient dormitories, conditions are so tight that individuals are unable to lie on their backs at night. Prisoners have to sleep on their sides. If one turns over, they all must turn over.
Tall inmates cannot stretch out because their feet would make contact with the heads of the men in the next row. Inmates washing themselves are allowed four litres of water daily. Attempts to scoop a fifth litre from the communal trough have been known to bring a rap in reprimand from a warder's wooden staff.
The Red Cross makes occasional visits to the jail. It's understood that the international organisation, which never speaks out publicly for fear of being denied access, recognises that conditions in the jail fall well below standards in developed countries.
Conditions in Phuket Jail are not exceptional in Thailand. The large numbers incarcerated are triggered by the national no-tolerance policy on illegal drugs that includes long sentences for possession of small amounts of marijuana and other recreational drugs, a misdemeanor treated with greater tolerance in the West.
Prison fare is minimal and Europeans generally lose weight quickly unless their diets can be supplemented by food brought in by visitors from outside. Dawn raids and searches at the Phuket facility seldom turn up drugs or banned items such as mobile telephones.
Despite the punishing conditions - prisoners are kept in their dormitory cells for 15 hours a day - the Phuket Jail is considered to be well-run. ''Trusties'' are allowed to work at a car wash for the public outside the jail perimeter.
Female prisoners are also allowed to massage members of the public, with the income from both activities allowing prisoners on Phuket to have three meals per day rather than two, as is standard at most other Thai jails.
Young children usually spend nights with their mothers inside the cells and transfer to a childcare centre during the day.
The future of the old jail is now under discussion. The new jail will be going up near the present Bang Jo low-security facility that doubles as a farm for jail produce.
Commander Pichit is concerned because relocating the new jail in central Phuket could mean more prison trucks on the island's roads. The Phuket Provincial Court is close by the present jail so truck trips are extremely short.
''The old jail could become a women's prison,'' said the commander. ''We are still thinking through this issue.''
Phuketwan has suggested that the opening of the new facility presents a perfect opportunity to separate ''innocent'' remand prisoners from sentenced criminals. At present, there is no distinction between those people awaiting trial and those who have been sentenced.
In many developed countries, people awaiting trial are kept separately to those already serving sentences.
Keeping the old jail as a remand jail would mean that for the first time on Phuket, suspects would not mingle with convicted prisoners.
Most of the prisoners who are trucked to the courts are those on remand, awaiting trial. Conversion of the old jail into a remand prison would mean few extra trucks on Phuket's roads.
The new jail is expected to be complete in 2018.
''The new jail will cost 796 million baht and take three years to complete in central Phuket, with accommodation for 1500 inmates,'' Commander Pichit said. ''Construction begins in August.''
The old jail in Phuket City, built more than a century ago to house 750 prisoners, now hosts 2940 men and women in conditions that can only be described as extreme.
With as many as 300 male prisoners squeezing into each of the ancient dormitories, conditions are so tight that individuals are unable to lie on their backs at night. Prisoners have to sleep on their sides. If one turns over, they all must turn over.
Tall inmates cannot stretch out because their feet would make contact with the heads of the men in the next row. Inmates washing themselves are allowed four litres of water daily. Attempts to scoop a fifth litre from the communal trough have been known to bring a rap in reprimand from a warder's wooden staff.
The Red Cross makes occasional visits to the jail. It's understood that the international organisation, which never speaks out publicly for fear of being denied access, recognises that conditions in the jail fall well below standards in developed countries.
Conditions in Phuket Jail are not exceptional in Thailand. The large numbers incarcerated are triggered by the national no-tolerance policy on illegal drugs that includes long sentences for possession of small amounts of marijuana and other recreational drugs, a misdemeanor treated with greater tolerance in the West.
Prison fare is minimal and Europeans generally lose weight quickly unless their diets can be supplemented by food brought in by visitors from outside. Dawn raids and searches at the Phuket facility seldom turn up drugs or banned items such as mobile telephones.
Despite the punishing conditions - prisoners are kept in their dormitory cells for 15 hours a day - the Phuket Jail is considered to be well-run. ''Trusties'' are allowed to work at a car wash for the public outside the jail perimeter.
Female prisoners are also allowed to massage members of the public, with the income from both activities allowing prisoners on Phuket to have three meals per day rather than two, as is standard at most other Thai jails.
Young children usually spend nights with their mothers inside the cells and transfer to a childcare centre during the day.
The future of the old jail is now under discussion. The new jail will be going up near the present Bang Jo low-security facility that doubles as a farm for jail produce.
Commander Pichit is concerned because relocating the new jail in central Phuket could mean more prison trucks on the island's roads. The Phuket Provincial Court is close by the present jail so truck trips are extremely short.
''The old jail could become a women's prison,'' said the commander. ''We are still thinking through this issue.''
Phuketwan has suggested that the opening of the new facility presents a perfect opportunity to separate ''innocent'' remand prisoners from sentenced criminals. At present, there is no distinction between those people awaiting trial and those who have been sentenced.
In many developed countries, people awaiting trial are kept separately to those already serving sentences.
Keeping the old jail as a remand jail would mean that for the first time on Phuket, suspects would not mingle with convicted prisoners.
Most of the prisoners who are trucked to the courts are those on remand, awaiting trial. Conversion of the old jail into a remand prison would mean few extra trucks on Phuket's roads.
The new jail is expected to be complete in 2018.
Will this be the first new international standard jail in Thailand, or are there already more jails at international standards in Thailand. ( toilet+ sink in the cel)?
Posted by Kurt on July 24, 2015 20:36