Some very good news for prisoners in Thailand was just announced today. After the 1st Thailand prisoner amnesty was enacted in July 2021, a 2nd amnesty has been made official to commemorate the birthday of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great. This has been published in the Royal Gazette of Thailand on 05 December 2021. This is very welcome news for the many prisoners in Thailand who are eligible for the amnesty. It is estimated that over 100,000 prisoners will receive some sort of benefit from this recent amnesty. It could also mean that some prisoners in Thailand will have just received the 1st Thailand prisoner amnesty’s benefits, and will now receive a 2nd round of reductions. Thailand Bail estimates that several thousand prisoners in Thai prisons in Bangkok will have their sentences reduced or be released from prison immediately.

According to the Thai Department of Corrections, the total number of prisoners in Thai jails and Thai prisons to be released will be more than 30,000. Around two-thirds of these prisoners in Thai jails and prisons will be released within the coming days, whilst the remaining 1/3 of these prisoners in Thai jails and prisons will be released under conditions of parole in Thailand. Parole in Thailand is a specific area of law that Thailand Bail has assisted others with before. Now, it is clear that the benefits of this work will mean many more prisoners in Thailand could be eligible for parole now instead of waiting longer.

This year of 2021 has been challenging for many people in the Thai prison system. The COVID-19 infections in the Thai prisons were hard to manage, and members of our own legal team became infected due to our continuing work in the prisons around Thailand. However, we have a duty to our clients who are fighting large cases where bail is not given, and we must continue our work no matter the risk to ourselves.

However, there has also been some very good news this year for prisoners in Thailand. There have been 2 amnesty rounds in Thailand for prisoners in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui, and the rest of Thailand, and a new drug law in Thailand was passed by the Thai Parliament. The details of these recent benefits are still being reviewed, but these changes are good for those stuck in a Thai prison. For more information about the 2 amnesties in Thailand or the new drug law in Thailand, please contact Thailand Bail.