The article discusses the newly opened SUPER MAX detention unit at Khao Bin Prison in Ratchaburi, Thailand, designed for high-profile convicts, particularly major drug traffickers. The facility features extreme security measures as inmates are isolated in cells with only artificial lighting, leading to potential psychological distress, which necessitates the installation of surveillance cameras in every corner of the cells.
This new unit is the first of its kind in Thailand and requires that inmates spend their first three months in solitary confinement without any belongings, only exposed to light. The prison administration actively monitors the inmates through 360 security cameras that are operational 24/7.
According to Dr. Supachok Khuanrachai, the prison warden, the SUPER MAX unit is intended to control disruptive inmates by separating them in narrow spaces and enforcing strict rules. It was originally established to manage inmates capable of orchestrating drug deals from inside prison, and measures have been implemented to block communication with the outside world.
After the initial solitary period, inmates can gradually interact with others but remain in close proximity for a total of six months, with structured evaluations for behavioral compliance. The article portrays a journalist’s three-hour experience inside a cell, articulating the oppressive feeling of confinement and psychological pressure.
Inmate accounts reveal that escaping the SUPER MAX unit requires significant personal transformation, with a focus on adhering to strict rules as a pathway to rehabilitation.
Post-SUPER MAX, inmates are transferred to a less restrictive area for one and a half years to further cultivate self-discipline through arts and music before re-entering the general inmate population. Thailand currently has five SUPER MAX facilities, with hopes that the need for more will not arise if effective crime prevention and awareness strategies are implemented.
The article concludes with a statement about raising public awareness of the consequences of crime to deter future offenses, promoting a weekly investigative program that tackles criminal issues in Thailand.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.