The Subcommittee on the Quality of Life of Prisoners invited Sek Loso, Earn Wat Yai, Rang Phra Nakhon, and L Oros to join a meeting urging a complete overhaul of medical care and vocational training, setting four main reform goals. Pol.Col. Thawee hopes society will grant opportunities.
At 10:10 a.m. on 21 July 2026, Mrs. Ratklao Intawong Suwankiri, a party-list MP from the Democrat Party and chairperson, of the Subcommittee studying justice, quality of life, access to healthcare for prisoners, and reintegration for former offenders, within the Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights of the House of Representatives, together with Pol.Col. Thawee Sodson, a party-list MP and leader of the Prachachart Party and a member of the Law Committee, jointly announced the results of the subcommittee meeting. The meeting examined the prisoner situation, development direction of Thailand's correctional system, career opportunities, and reintegration for former offenders at the Parliament building.
Mrs. Ratklao said the subcommittee invited representatives of former inmates, including Mr. Sarayut Srikamnerd, known as L Oros; Mr. Seksan Sukpimai, known as Sek Loso; Mr. Naphan Thonglue, known as Earn Wat Yai; and Mr. Akarin Puri, known as Rang Phra Nakhon. All shared similar experiences about prison life, such as healthcare where regardless of the illness, only paracetamol is provided. They reflected that vocational training in prison is outdated and not aligned with current needs. They urged improvements in both healthcare and vocational training to make former inmates more accepted by society upon release. Female former inmates noted insufficient sanitary pads during menstruation and called for increased supplies. They also pointed out an imbalance between staff and doctors relative to prisoner numbers, falling short of international standards, resulting in inadequate care that needs improvement.
The subcommittee’s ultimate goals for sustainable change focus on four key areas:
1. Enhancing fundamental rights and justice in custody, including effective, confidential, and safe access to legal counsel and assistance in accordance with international standards.
2. Improving living conditions, hygiene, bedding, and promoting educational opportunities to develop prisoners' minds and spirit, preparing them for reintegration.
3. Removing barriers and improving access to quality healthcare services, including medical treatment and mental health care inside prisons, ensuring equality with outside services.
4. Establishing collaboration mechanisms with the private sector to provide vocational training that is practical and meets labor market demands, aiming to return productive individuals to society and sustainably reduce recidivism.
Pol.Col. Thawee said he believes this subcommittee creates opportunities. Currently, over 200,000 people enter the correctional system, but about 6,000 fewer leave, reflecting a population of roughly 300,000 inmates. The challenge is to enable these inmates to return to society as valuable and dignified individuals. He stressed the importance of rehabilitation, including medical care for the sick, to help them become new, renewed people. He sees this as both an opportunity and a challenge for Thailand, as the country needs quality people today.
