GUIDELINES FOR PREVENTING RECIDIVISM OF OFFENDERS IN NAKHON PATHOM CENTRAL PRISON

Abstract

This research article aimed 1) to study the factors of recidivism of inmates in Nakhon Pathom Central Prison and 2) to study the methods to prevent recidivism of inmates in Nakhon Pathom Central Prison from recidivating. This was a quantitative research with a sample group of 323 inmates in Nakhon Pathom Central Prison who recidivated 2 times or more. The sample group was obtained by using a non-probability method and a quota sample group. The research instrument was a questionnaire with a reliability value of 0.93. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

The results findings revealed as follows: 1) The factors affecting the recidivism of offenders in Nakhon Pathom central prison consisted of (1) Economic factors included poverty and unemployment. Poverty was mostly caused by a higher cost of living but the same income. Unemployment was mostly caused by having a prison record, making it difficult to find a job. (2) Environmental factors included social acceptance, community conditions, and associating with friends. Social acceptance mostly came from the idea that society seeing people as unable to be good people and unable to stop doing wrong. As for community conditions, it mostly came from people in the community living in places where people hang out with vices, and associating with friends, it mostly came from friends who have been in prison. (3) Personal factors included mental state, personal habits, and physical. For mental states, most were caused by wrongdoing because they could not control their desires. For personal habits, most were caused by being extravagant spenders. For physical state, most were caused by poor health, and (4) Family factors included family status and family relationships. For family status, most were caused by family separation. For family relationships, most were caused by not receiving warmth from the family. 2) The guidelines for preventing recidivism of offenders in Nakhon Pathom Central Prison consisted of (1) Economic aspect: Prisons should coordinate with outside agencies to hire offenders.
(2) Personal aspect: There should be activities to relieve stress for offenders, such as sports, recreation, music, etc. (3) Family aspect: Prisoners should be allowed to receive visits from relatives both near and far via mobile phone screens so that offenders did not feel abandoned or far from their families, and (4) Environmental aspect: There should help to create understanding among the community and society to accept offenders after their release.