Bang Kwang & Khlong Prem Prisons

Thailand’s permissive reputation is juxtaposed by strict antidrug laws that often land foreign nationals in a prison system with feudal conditions. A sobering and charitable expedition is to visit an inmate, bringing them news of the outside, basic supplies and reading materials. The regulations for visits are quite involved and require pre-arrival research. You must dress respectfully (long sleeves and long pants), bring your passport for registration purposes, and have the name and building number of the inmate you plan to visit. Inmate information can be obtained from most embassies. Visiting hours and days vary depending on the building the inmate is housed in. Male inmates who have received sentences of 40 years to life (often for drug offences) are detained in Bang Kwang Prison, north of central Bangkok. To reach the prison, take the Mae Nam Chao Phraya ferry north to Nonthaburi (the last stop); the prison is 500m from the pier. Women sentenced to seven to 40 years are detained in the Bang Khen section of Khlong Prem Prison. From Nonthaburi, take a minibus (15B) to the prison, or take the Skytrain to Mo Chit and then a taxi to the prison gates. For more information, see www.phaseloop.com/foreignprisoners/prisoners-thailand.html or www.bangkwang.net.