WOMEN DRUG OFFENDERS TO BE PAROLED

Second Chance For Small-Time Jailbirds

A total of 393 women prisoners convicted of minor drug offences have been
released under a scheme to suspend their sentences and allow them back into
society.

Kitti Limchaikit, justice deputy permanent secretary, said this was the
first time convicted women drug offenders had been released before
completing their jail time.

They were given four months of occupational training under the
Wiwatpollamuang school programme before being freed.

The ministry is suspending sentences under a programme to reduce
overcrowding in jails and to give minor offenders a second chance.

''Most of these female drug offenders are small dealers and housewives who
have been conned into selling drugs,'' said Mr Kitti.

Reform schools had been set up by the army to help rehabilitate drug users.
However, only male prisoners have benefited due to limited facilities for
women at army camps.

The women prisoners were sent for training at Khao Prik women's
correctional prison in Nakhon Ratchasima under a Corrections Department
programme that ended last Friday, said Mr Kitti.

Initially, 400 women had applied to join the programme but four were
ineligible for release and others were sick.

Prisoners must have less than eight years remaining of their jail sentence,
and have had no more than 60 methamphetamine tablets in their possession
when arrested. Some of the women had been jailed for only 4-5 tablets.

The released prisoners will be supervised by probation officials and
relatives need to guarantee their good behaviour before they are released.

A second batch of women prisoners will be trained at the Wiwatpollamuang
schools if the first group's progress is deemed a success.