The Application of Padana Dhamma Principle of Maintain Prisoner Discipline in Songkla Central Prison

Abstract

The objectives of this research article were to study 1) an application of Padana Dhamma principle to maintain prisoner discipline in Songkla central prison; and 2) guideline for applying of Padana Dhamma principle to maintain prisoner discipline in Songkla Central Prison. The research sample consisted of 346 of prisoners in Songkla central prison, all of whom were determined by the Kreicie and Morgan’s sample size table. Ten of the key informants were selected by purposive sampling. The employed research instruments were questionnaire and the interview form. The statistics employed for the data analysis were frequency, percentage, standard deviation, and content analysis.

The findings were as follows; 1) the overall of an application of Padana Dhamma principle to maintain prisoner discipline in Songkla central prison was at high level, which specific aspects could be ranked from top to bottom based on their rating means as  follows: aspect of conservative, aspect of prayer, aspect of concessions and aspect of meditation; and 2) guidelines for applying of Padana Dhamma principle to maintain prisoner discipline in Songkla central prison that they should be (1) preventing by imposing discipline and clear rules; (2) considering offenses rationally, along with providing opportunities for improvement and jointly finding ways to prevent; (3) providing the training and clarification on rules and regulations to prisoners; and (4) providing the regular and continuous review and emphasis on the benefits of non-recidivism to prisoners.