Bangkok: An in-depth look at criminal psychology and solutions to the problem of reoffending.
The recurring heinous crimes by the same perpetrators raise a major societal question: "Why does one person dare to commit violence repeatedly?" And is Thailand's rehabilitation system truly effective? Associate Professor Police Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Krisanapong Pootrakul, a criminologist specializing in justice administration and social security, offers insightful perspectives across various dimensions.
According to Thai News Agency, a key factor in shaping violent behavior often stems from domestic violence. In Mr. Pong's case, information indicates he was physically abused by his father since childhood. Academic studies suggest that growing up in violence significantly increases the risk of an individual using violence against others in the future. Furthermore, offenses often occur in a "gradual" manner, starting with minor violations such as smoking or truancy. If left unaddressed, these behaviors can escalate to more serious offenses, such as drug use or even murder.
Society often expects prisons to be "miracle places" where criminals can be rehabilitated and become good citizens. However, statistics contradict this. Associate Professor Police Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Krisanapong revealed that approximately 43% of ex-convicts re-offend within the first three years, a very high figure. The main reasons are that after release, offenders are often stigmatized by society, lack acceptance from their families, and face difficulty finding work. Ultimately, they rejoin groups with their inmates and commit crimes again.
Associate Professor Police Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Krisanapong suggests that preventing reoffenses requires a genuine "community mechanism," not just routine trilateral reporting to probation officers. Community leaders, such as village heads or sub-district chiefs, should play a crucial role in closely monitoring ex-convicts in their areas. This includes observing their occupations, income, and family circumstances to prevent them from returning to their old ways. Currently, despite the existence of the Reoffense Prevention Act, practical implementation is hampered by issues related to data integration between government agencies.
A worrying aspect of this case is that the perpetrator impersonated a police "informant" or "finger," causing fear in the community and discouraging them from reporting the crime. Associate Professor Police Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Krisanapong pointed out that this problem reflects the centralized structure of the police force, which is not truly accountable to the public in the area. When complaints are filed about the behavior of police officers or informants, the matters are often sent back to the original agency for internal investigation, leading to a lack of transparency and public trust.
In criminology, the concept of punishment ranges from revenge to rehabilitation. Associate Professor Police Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Krisanapong compares some types of offenders to "cloth stained with deep-seated dirt" that is difficult to clean. Even though the world currently emphasizes human rights and rehabilitation, for heinous and heartless cases, the death penalty remains a subject of debate in Thai society, particularly in cases similar to the "Director Golf" case, where the courts at every level handed down the death sentence.
Solving the problem of serial crime is not simply about increasing penalties. It must begin with breaking the cycle of violence within the family, restructuring the police to allow for public participation in oversight, and building strong community-based monitoring systems to prevent these "social parasites" from returning to cause further loss.