Speaking at a Nation Building Institute forum, Mr Chatchai stressed "there is a need to expunge the negative social perception of former convicts". When well-behaved inmates are granted a pardon, many people "fear" their release, but this reaction will simply push them back into criminal activity, Mr Chatchai said. He said certain rules may also need to be relaxed to allow former convicts to enter the workforce more easily. But that does not always occur in practice because of system glitches, resulting in youngsters facing discrimination in the workplace, Mr Chatchai said. The majority are drug convicts who "return to jail repeatedly," Mr Chatchai said.

Source: Bangkok Post April 30, 2017 22:07 UTC