Prison Trends During COVID-19

Abstract

This research article aims to examine the statistical trajectory of the number of prisoners incarcerated. By comparing studies conducted in the past and during the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in Thailand from 2017 to 2022, it will be possible to determine the number of inmates who were detained during the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to predict the likely causes that will affect the increase or decrease in the number of inmates in Thailand during that time period. This study employed a qualitative research approach to collect numbers, statistics, and other data pertaining to the situation of inmates infected with COVID-19 in prisons, statistics of inmates held in prisons, and statistical data of convicted prisoners in terms of the number of times they have been sentenced and the nature of their offense. Including statistics on prisoner parole and the number of recidivism cases among released inmates. During the years 2017 to 2022, data has been published in the form of documents in print media as well as websites and various electronic media to compare the difference in the number of inmates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand. The results indicate that the number of inmates held by the Department of Corrections during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand during the years 2020–2021 decreased substantially. However, the decrease in the number of prisoners during this time period may be attributable to the prohibition on people leaving their homes between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., when crime is prevalent. It might also be the result of policies or actions taken to lower the number of inmates in prisons, such as the release of prisoners ahead of schedule to ease the strain on prisons brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak.