Thailand's Sex Offender Rehabilitation Programs: Guidelines for Improvement

Sex offender rehabilitation programs mostly relate to western countries and their experience can be utilized to improve and develop the efficiency and effectiveness of the correctional systems in Thailand. This study used qualitative research design to identify issues currently being faced in the execution of Thailand's sex offender rehabilitation programs. In-depth interviews and focus groups with 30 respondents engaged in the work of the Thai Department of Corrections and/or the delivery of sex offender rehabilitation programs in Thailand were carried out. The results made evident the problems and limitations faced in the operation of these programs such as ineffective classification and lack of psychological assessment of sex offenders prior to their enrolment in such programs, insufficient content, intensity and duration of the programs as well as lack of standardization among respective prisons and inappropriate level of resources (including human resources and the provision of required spaces, instruments and technology) dedicated to delivering these programs. In addressing these issues, the study used the standards set by the United Kingdom as benchmark in operating similar sex offender rehabilitation programs. The study offers practical and pragmatic guidelines through which Thailand can ensure success of these rehabilitation programs.