Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
Changes to the country’s justice system include plans to stop sending people who commit minor crimes to jail.
Read through the following story from the Bangkok Post to learn more about the justice system.
The Justice Ministry plans to impose non-custodial sentences instead of jail terms for certain crimes as part of a revamp of the country’s justice system.
TOKYO RULES
Deputy Permanent Secretary for Justice Thawatchai Thaikhiew on January 9 said Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya was convinced prisons are not a place for offenders who commit petty crimes or less dangerous offences.
Putting them in jail and depriving them of their freedom will not solve the problem but will only complicate it, Thawatchai said.
In light of this, the Justice Ministry will adopt non-custodial measures which follow the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (the Tokyo Rules), Thawatchai said.
COMMUNITY JUSTICE
Under the measures, residents will be encouraged to become more involved in the management of criminal justice, with community justice volunteers to be recruited in villages nationwide.
Community justice centres will also be set up as part of local administrative organisations to educate local people on the matter, as well as accept complaints from locals and forward them to relevant agencies for further action.
The centres will also provide assistance for people who have left prison to resume a normal life, Thawatchai said.
“The Interior Ministry’s Damrongdhama complaints centres — which can pass on complaints to authorities if they see fit — will be asked to oversee the implementation of the measures,” he pointed out.
CIVIL POWER
The justice ministry will also promote the application of dispute resolution mechanisms between litigants at all stages of the criminal justice process. The civil sector will also be given more power in resolving disputes. Legislation for both issues is being prepared, Thawatchai added.
Exercises
Read the story and decide whether the following statements are true or false.
1. Thawatchai Thaikhiew is Minister of Justice.
……………….
2. Damrongdhama complaints centres are part of the Ministry of Justice.
……………….
3. Thawatchai said the Justice Ministry will adopt measures which follow the Tokyo Rules.
……………….
4. Thawatchai said the community justice centres will not provide assistance for people who have left prison to resume a normal life.
……………….
Vocabulary
- non-custodial (adj): that does not involve a period of time in prison
petty (adj): small and unimportant
dispute (n): an argument or a disagreement between two people or groups
litigant (n): a person who is making or defending a claim in court
