The 17th exhibition of correctional products from 14 prisons in the country’s south is being held in Saphan Hin until Dec 9.
The event aims to both showcase products made by inmates which can be bought by members of the general public whilst also highlighting the notion of reform among the offenders.
Products include a range of traditional wood-crafted and varnished furniture items such as benches, tables, chairs, ornaments and decorative features.
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat officially opened yesterday’s event and was joined by: Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO); Prasit Sinsaowaphak, Deputy Mayor of Phuket City; Arkom Phusri, Commander of Phang-Nga Provincial Prison, Acting Commander of Phuket Provincial Prison, Commander of Prisons and Correctional Institutions across the 14 Southern Provinces; in addition to relevant government officials.
“The Department of Corrections has an important mission which is to control prisoners professionally and provide effective treatment, rehabilitation and development of prisoners’ bad habits in order to return them to society,” Governor Sophon said in his opening remarks.
“The ultimate aim is to rehabilitate prisoners so that they become good citizens with good physical and mental health that have developed skills that can see them make an honest living in a solid occuptaion – and most importantly not to reoffend,” he added.
Governor Sophon emphasised that the Department of Corrections is still facing numerous challenges, particularly in regards to the staff-prisoner ratio, although this ongoing rehabilitation program was evidence that the reform process was working to good effect and was very successful.
Commander Arkom echoed the Governor’s reamrks, explaining that the Department of Corrections has a policy for prisons and detention centers to provide various vocational training programs to inmates while they are in remand.
Such products crafted by prisoners can then be sold within various local communities on a rotational basis, with the proceeds going back into the prison system to help continue to develop such vocational programs, and a small portion going to the inmates themselves.
As the host province on this occasion, the goods will be on offer daily between Dec 1-9 from 9am to 10pm at the Saphan Hin Center Stage.
On this occasion there are a total of 24 prisons and detention centres participating in the program from areas including Chaiya, Ranong, Krabi and others, officials confirmed.