The Chiang Mai Central Prison’s Rehabilitation Patterns for Theft Offenders

Abstract

This research is an action research based on qualitative research methodology through collecting the data from related documents, in-depth interview with 35 key informants which is used structured and semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussion with 10 key informants. The objectives of this research are to study the rehabilitation of offenders at Chiang Mai Central Prison, to develop an integrated rehabilitation pattern for theft offenders, and to present a rehabilitation pattern for theft offenders at Chiang Mai Central Prison. The data analysis is based on content analysis according to the research objectives.

The results show that 1) there are two types of rehabilitation patterns at Chiang Mai Central Prison: (1) first-time offenders, necessary or pressured offenders and (2) repeated offenders or more than two times who cannot change their behavior and return to their original crimes. 2. The steps for developing the integrated rehabilitation patterns concern with the development of current patterns into a new processes by studying theft offenders’ require, interview, and behavioral observation from the training and then analyze and conclude as a new process and method. 3. A present of rehabilitation patterns derived from the development of the theft offender trained process has obtained the new pattern into practice. The body of knowledge from the research is the rehabilitation patterns for theft offenders with rehabilitation training based on the needs of inmates, activity in mental development, and support after released from prison.