Phuket prisoners could have sentences reduced in new community project

Prisoners in Thailand’s island province of Phuket are being given a chance to have their sentences decreased in a new community project. In the project, called “Public Work for Society,” inmates from Phuket Prison who have shown good behaviour will be selected to do community service work. One day of monitored work reduces the inmates’ sentences by one day.

Phuket officials including Governor Narong have joined in on some of the work projects. Yesterday, Narong and other officials handed refreshments to the inmates as they dredged drainage ditches at the fresh marked on Thepkrasattri Road.

The goal of the project is to help integrate reformed inmates back into society by letting them help local communities through manual work. It is a collaboration between Phuket Prisons and Thepkrassatri sub-district municipality.

This news comes after another community project involving the old Phuket Prison was announced earlier this year. The old Phuket Prison, built in Phuket Town about 120 years ago and no longer housing inmates, was set to become a spooky tourist attraction, providing visitors with a “Twilight Zone” experience. In addition to the fun new tourism experience, the prison was set to also become a site for training inmates in vocational skills.

Hopefully, both these projects will meet their goals of getting Phuket’s prisoners become productive members of society once they are released.

SOURCE: The Phuket News