A large majority of people agree with the Justice Ministry's plan to build "corrections industrial estates" where inmates can learn workskills before their release, according to an opinion survey by National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.
The poll was conducted in September,withresponse from 1,269 people aged 18 and over throughout the country.
They were asked for their opinions of the Justice Ministry's plan to build corrections industrial estates to relieve prison overcrowding, provide occupational and skills training for inmates.
It is hoped the scheme will enable inmates to leave prison with a job skill and return to society as good citizens.
A huge majority, 91.45%, agreed with the plan - with 59.89% strongly agreeing with it and 32.86% in moderate agreement. Only 7.01% disagreed, while the rest had no answer or were not interested.
Asked on what training should be provided, with a respondent allowed to give more than one answer, 54.93% said engine repairs; 54.22% agriculture; 53.43% furniture making; 40.90% beauty treatment and hairdressing; 39.95% handicrafts and dressmaking; 38.30% cooking; 37.43% Thai massage; and, 34.24% husbandry.
Asked about the preferred form of a corrections industrial estate, 54.05% said it should be an enclosed site with restrictions on entry and exit; 43.58% said it should be the same as other industrial estates in general; and the rest had no comment or were not interested.
Finally, when asked whether they thought the plan would reduce recidivism, 73.44% said they believed so; 15.84% were not certain; 10.24% did not think so; and, the rest had no answer or were not interested.