Thammasat University and its network of partners have launched a ‘Work for Freedom’ initiative to assist impoverished inmates who are serving prison time because they cannot afford to pay court-ordered fines.
The pilot programme, the first of its kind in Thailand, aims to tackle the deep-seated inequality in the judicial system, wherein poverty often leads to the loss of liberty.
Under the scheme, a revolving fund pays the inmates' fines upfront, allowing them to be released and repay the debt through guaranteed employment.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, of Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law, said the project is the result of collaboration with the Thailand Institute of Justice’s (TIJ) ‘Tang Ton Dee’ project and the Mirror Foundation.
Current law dictates that those unable to pay fines must be detained at a rate of 500 baht per day.
Prinya noted that approximately 40,000 people are affected by this regulation annually. While the law permits substituting fines with community service, in practice, the courts only grant such requests in 5% to 6% of cases.
"No one should be imprisoned simply because they lack the money to pay a fine," Prinya said, adding that the project seeks to push for systemic legal reforms and more frequent use of non-custodial measures.
The pilot phase has already seen four voluntary participants released after the fund covered a combined 98,500 baht in fines. The atmosphere on their first day of freedom was emotional as families reunited with their loved ones.
The participants are scheduled to begin work immediately at partner organisations, including Thammasat University and the Mirror Foundation.
Officials expect the participants to earn enough to settle their debts to the fund within approximately two months, allowing the capital to be reused for other eligible inmates.
Organisers hope this work-to-redeem mechanism will serve as a blueprint for the Ministry of Justice to reduce overcrowding in prisons and provide a fair alternative for those who have committed minor offences, but are trapped by their financial circumstances.
