Prisoners in Thailand may earn early release by reading books
The Department of Corrections (DoC) is considering the implementation of reading as a criterion for prisoners’ early release, as announced by Justice Minister Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong.
The proposal involves a project where inmates could earn one day of parole for each book they read while incarcerated.
The initiative is designed to encourage learning and ensure prisoners receive basic education before their release.
The justice minister highlighted the importance of inmates being literate and possessing business skills by the end of their sentences.
Among the 230,000 incarcerated individuals nationwide, 77% have not completed compulsory education, and 10% are classified as uneducated.
The DoC strives for these inmates to achieve the equivalent of Mathayom 6 (Grade 12) or higher vocational qualifications, broadening their employment prospects post-release.
The reading programme is part of a broader initiative, which has been modelled on examples from other countries like Brazil, where prisoners can reduce their sentences by four days for each book read.
In support of this, the DoC has established Phrom Panya libraries in prisons, as part of the To Be Number One project. These libraries offer physical books, with some holding a collection of up to 20,000 texts.
Pol. Col. Tawee emphasised that the reading initiative is inclusive and not targeted at any specific group of inmates. He first introduced this idea during the 109th DoC Foundation Day event on October 11 last year. He believes fostering a reading culture will aid prisoners in reintegration into society.
The DoC is committed to improving the quality of the country’s workforce, and contributing to national development, reported Bangkok Post.
In similar news, a British man arrived in Thailand expecting a peaceful, sun-soaked getaway, but his dream holiday quickly turned into a nightmare after a minor mishap triggered a series of disastrous events.
Arrested, assaulted, and left without his belongings, Andrew Hopkins’ ordeal serves as a stark warning for travellers enticed by the Land of Smiles.
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