Anthropological Archives Database

Year 1958-1961

Me Juak open prison and interview with convicts.

July 7, 1969. The prison at Me Juak was a small prison which detained a small number of prisoners. A few months previously a teenager had escaped from the prison, and shot himself because of family problems.

by : Michael Moerman

Year 1958-1961

Interview with former nai ampher Prisoner.

July 7, 1969. A former sheriff was punished at the Me Juak prison. Because he was senior, and was friends with the prison staff, he had been allowed to live in the house of the jailer.

by : Michael Moerman

Year 1958-1961

Interview with prisoner.

July 7, 1969. Kay and Kaew were prisoners in the Chiang Mai prison. Both were convicted in a case of heroin trade. If anyone arrested had unveiled the process of involved with the drug trade to the police, their relatives would be hurt. But if they kept the their mouthes shut and did not disclose anything confidential, when the penalty ended they would be well taken care of.

by : Michael Moerman

Year 1958-1961

Duputy jailer, Lampang prison.

June 16, 1969. Bodin interviewed an assistant jailer in Lampang about his work experience and his attitude towards hi job. From the interview, most people had a negative view of his career. Although his career was as a government official, it was not honored because he had to surveil the prisoners' conduct. He was also implicated in a charge of extortion and abuse towards the prisoners. According to Bodin, although the prison in Lampang was not large, it was well organized, because of the good care and management of the jailers. Conditions were better than the prison in Chiang Mai. Moreover, this prison also allowed the prisoners to plant vegetables and to raise pigs as livelihood support.

by : Michael Moerman

Year 1958-1961

Interview with Pracim, phatsadi, (jailer), chief of the guards division, Chiengmai central prison.

May 29, 1969. Bodin interviewed Prachim, the head of security at the Chiang Mai prison, on various issues of interest. First, the categorization of security officers within the prison; second, the classification of the different levels of penalty, which was dependent on the convictions; third, procedures for the reduction of penalties; fourth, articles that were prohibited in the prison; fifth, jailers kept under command; sixth, unauthorized contact between male and female prisoners; seventh, care of prisoners varying on the severity of the level of punishment, and the social status of prisoners (for example: officers, students and learned individuals, were treated better than people who were uneducated).

by : Michael Moerman

Year 1958-1961

Interview with Chiengmai warden.

May 26, 1969. Moerman interviewed the Chiang Mai Prison Warden about the prison works. For example, first, the revenue of the jailers was very low, often they benefited from grafting from prisoners; second, issues surrounding homosexuality within the prison; third, the inferior performance of the Director-General; fourth, the patronage of the children of prisoners by warden; fifth disappointment with the job of the warden - even though they were government officials, the position of jailer seemed to be less honored than other official positions; sixth, problems of management within the prison.

by : Michael Moerman

Year 1958-1961

Bodin interview Chalern Upanan, a former convict.

May 26, 1969. Bodin interviewed a former prisoner in Chiang Mai Prison. There were various issues of interest. For example, first, the prisoners who wanted to reduce penalty had to take the exam, which would be held regularly every 6 months; second, conduct in prison for new prisoners; third, favoritism within the prison and punishment of prisoners who refused to comply with the orders of prison wanders (locked in the dark room); fourth, differences between prisons in terms of food in Chiang Mai Prison and Lampang Prison.

by : Michael Moerman

Year 1958-1961

Interview with DG the dept. of Corrections.

May 7, 1969. Morning Man interviewed Narong about steps for soliciting parole for prisoners. May 20, 1969. Akhom told Moerman that there were prisoners who had escaped from prison, however, all prisoners were intimidated. As a result, other prisoners were afraid of being intimidated.

by : Michael Moerman

Year 1958-1961

Interview with the warden of Chiengmai prison.

May 20, 1969. Akhom and Bodin interviewed the Chiang Mai Prison Wardens, on various issues of interest. First, prison staff lack of knowledge and actual understanding of operations with the prisoners; second, the steps of convict detainment depended on the type of punishment. (i.e. Provincial Prison – Regional Prison - Central Prison); third, how to apply for parole and the conduct of prisoners outside the prison after receiving parole; fourth, welfare for helping convicts was delivered by the priests; fifth, the smuggling of heroin into the prison.