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The Application of American Corrections Technology Throughout the Globe
James Parkey

"Public private partnerships are an important option that can be utilized in times of economic uncertainty and in periods of prosperity. There is a nexus between the public sector’s needs and the private sector’s goals. Local and state governments, particularly in today’s challenging economic times, need to find innovative ways to improve infrastructure that makes sense to the taxpayer." - Doug Domenech

The growing trend of the provision of public services by the private sector around the globe underscores the increasing importance of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) as an efficient means to tap the private sector’s management capabilities and innovations to support the government’s works. Where projects are well structured and risks are appropriately allocated, PPP can offer value for money in terms of providing high quality services at the least cost to users of the services as well as to taxpayers.

Recently, Corplan Corrections took the initiative to expand the scope of our services to include the provision of corrections solutions to governments around the world.

Pirapan Salirathavibhaga is the Minister of Justice for Thailand. He was formerly a judge.

By creating a strategic partnership with Creative Corrections and AES Group LTD, Corplan Corrections has embarked on an ambitious program to expand our horizons. We have recently met with Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, the Minister of Justice for Thailand.

In Thailand, PPP has already played an important role in providing public infrastructures in many sectors of the economy for more than a decade, most notably in the power/electricity, telecom and transport sectors. We have already successfully exhibited that The Private, Public Partnership (PPP) is a way forward as an efficient means to develop quality public services and as a way to reduce government’s burden right here in the USA, but we also knew that there were international applications. We therefore welcomed the opportunity to present the government of Thiland with an efficient source of Infrastructural Development. The sharing of knowledge and experience with other countries would help us move up the "learning curve" as we continue to implement PPP projects. In this respect, Percy Pitzer and Creative Corrections deserve much thanks for acting as a liazon between our group and the U.S. State Department in assuring all protocol was observed.

 

Thailand’s experience with PPP

Traditionally, government projects in Thailand have been predominantly financed through conventional procurement methods. However, due to the high costs associated with infrastructure procurement, it was difficult for the RTG to deliver infrastructures without incurring burdens on government’s balance sheet. Therefore, the RTG increased the role of the private sector by introducing PPP in government’s procurement. Since the early 90’s, PPP has been used in various sectors, including power/electricity, telecom, ports, water and sanitation and transport sectors.

Our Partners

Left to right: Percy Pitzer, Creative Corrections, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, Minister of Justice for Thailand, James Parkey, Corplan Corrections, Kendall Thinney, Hale-Mills.

Creative Corrections is currently staffed and positioned to offer review and monitoring services to private and governmental organizations preparing to enter into the planning, design, construction, and activation of correctional, detention, and related facilities. Although Corplan's services, in many ways, mirror those of Creative Corrections, our association has proven to be extremely symbiotic. Percy Pitzer and his staff have proven to be invaluable in the realm of international relations.

Our other partner in this venture, AES, provides a full spectrum of services ranging from project specification through design engineering, installation, training, and support, complimented by its relationships with both Thai and US companies. The basic charter of AES commits us to provide support from inception through full project and equipment life cycle to ensure that the end user receives a system which meets their requirements and is supported throughout its full design life.

AES is part of the Yip In Tsoi Group, a group of companies teamed together to provide full turnkey solutions for cutting edge technology projects in SE Asia. One of the key members of the YIT Group is Yip In Tsoi & Co., Ltd. established in Thailand over 60 years ago, and a solution partner for international leaders such as Sun Microsystems and Oracle.

The city of Pattaya is a self governing municipal area which covers the whole tambon Nong Prue (Nongprue) and Na Kluea (Naklua) and parts of Huai Yai and Nong Pla Lai. It is located in the heavily industrial Eastern Seaboard zone, along with Si Racha (Sri Racha), Laem Chabang, and Chon Buri (Chonburi).

On December 22, 2010, we made a site visit to the Chonburi Juvenile Observation and Protection Center. outside Pattaya. This tour was conducted by team members of Corplan Corrections, Creative Corrections and staff members of the Thai Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection, and the Chonburi Center. As the security and operational concerns will be addressed by others, I will confine my observations to those regarding the physical plant and grounds.

Chonburi is currently operated as a multi-classification juvenile center. It is the stated desire of the Director-General of the Department to upgrade Chonburi to a High-Security Detention facility. The purpose of our visit was to assist the Department in evaluating the feasibility of such a transition

Chonburi is a walled campus of multiple detaches structures ,constructed of masonry ,concrete and composite roofing . Many of the structures are largely open-air , due to the agreeable climate. Available facilities include Administration, Education, Housing, Medical, Food Preparation and Serving, Maintenance and Off-site staff Housing. Less than 10 years old , the facility is reasonable clean and well kept, considering that it is severely overcrowded. Designed for a capacity of 200 ,it currently houses 300 plus male juveniles , aged 10 to 17 years.

The lack of any definitive separation results in the wholesale mixing of various offender categories Chonburi juveniles include both pre-sentenced and sentenced individuals These categories are divided into two physical plants within the campus. Pre-sentenced facilities include both male and female juveniles, aged 10 to 17 years.

Left to right: James Parkey, Corplan Corrections, Chartchai Suthiklom, Director General, Thai Department of Corrections,Kendall Thinney, Hale-Mills, Percy Pitzer, Creative Corrections.

If, as planned, high -security juveniles from other facilities are to be relocated here, significant modifications will be required to insure the safety of both staff and juveniles.

Proposed Modifications and Improvements:

1. A firm security perimeter will need to be created. Current wall perimeter , while formidable, is not supervised adequately at points of entrance or exit. No safety vestibules exist for vehicles or staff. These must be implemented to effect perimeter security.

2.Current perimeter wall should be electronically enhanced and better lit to insure adequate night supervision of security and points of entrance and egress.

3. Deferred or lack of maintenance is visible at all levels. If it is broken ,it stays broken. A problem that could spell dire consequences , if this facility truly becomes a maximum security detention facility , as suggested.

4. A self-contained high -security unit within the facility will need to be constructed to handled the needs for separation of dangerous. Vulnerable or disruptive juveniles. Adequate space exists within Chonburi for such a much needed classification asset. The actual size must be determined in close consultation with the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection . It would appear that a newly constructed separation unit of 50 to150 beds would greatly improve the ability to properly classify the various groups of juveniles

5. The on -going maintenance needs of such a large facility ,coupled with the desire to rehabilitate juveniles presents a unique and under-realized opportunity to teach the construction trades to young juveniles in a county with a growing need for skilled construction workers. Instructing the skills, such as, painting, carpentry , masonry and the electrical and plumbing trades could not only maintain Chonburi , but serve as skill set development for employment upon graduation.

6. Of specific note are some issues that require immediate correction ,prior to any attempted security upgrade. The windows and glazing are constructed of light weight aluminum and glass adjustable windows. These are wholly unsuitable in any security environment. Most are currently inoperative or missing. This represents an environmental problem in wet or cold weather and a severe security threat for contraband and weapons production

 

In summary, all parties benefit from a healthy, strong partnership of private and public sector efforts in the area of standards and conformity assessment. From the private sector's perspective, working with counterparts from government enables industry to provide input or direction for many of the regulations it must meet. Simultaneously, regulatory agencies are able to meet their responsibilities more economically and efficiently. In the specific case of the Chonburi Walled Campus, the over-all condition of the existing facility is probably adequate for the current classifications now being housed there, nothing higher. There is more than sufficient land to upgrade and enlarge Chonburi to meet the security needs of higher classifications.