CHIANG RAI – The Corrections Department issued a statement after concerns surfaced about living conditions at Chiang Rai Central Prison, with a focus on drinking water and water for daily use.
The department said it received a report from Chiang Rai Central Prison about Mr. Chatmongkol (known as “Boss”), an inmate in a Section 112 case. Prison officials reported he is housed in Zone 3 and is serving a 2-year sentence.
According to the report, the prison provides drinking water through an RO filtration system. Officials said the supply is adequate and the water is clean. They also stated that the dining area provides drinking water through both chilled and hot-water dispensers, available to inmates across the facility.
In addition, the prison nurse reportedly tests water quality every month. The department said results have remained within normal standards. At the same time, the prison is installing an additional RO unit inside Zone 3.
Groundwater system, filtration, and chlorine treatment
For utility needs such as bathing, the prison said it uses groundwater that goes through filtration and chlorine treatment to reduce germs before use. Late last week, staff found a damaged water pipe and completed repairs, according to the department.
The prison also manages water access through scheduled time periods. Officials said inmates can use water in the morning for personal hygiene, as well as before bedtime for showers. The report added that the bathing area includes shower fixtures and a scoop-bathing option for older inmates.
To keep order and avoid shortages, the prison said it sets time slots for bathing so everyone receives enough water.
On bedding and sleeping arrangements, the department said the prison follows inmate care standards. It stated that each inmate receives a sleeping area of 1.2 square meters. The prison uses two setup styles, depending on space and layout.
The department also addressed the use of three blanket items, described as being used as a sleeping mat, a pillow, and a blanket. When inmates sleep side by side, staff arrange bedding to stay neat and reduce gaps that could make rest uncomfortable.
As an added welfare measure, the prison allows inmates to bring drinking water up to the sleeping area. Officials said this helps prevent shortages overnight. The department added that Chiang Rai Central Prison has not recorded formal complaints about drinking water or utility water.
Department says practices follow SOPs and international standards
The Corrections Department said the prison’s actions follow its standard operating procedures and align with international guidelines. It referenced the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules) and the Bangkok Rules.
These standards cover hygiene, welfare, and appropriate living conditions, with the goal of equal treatment and basic quality of life consistent with human rights principles.
Mr. Chatmongkol Valley, a 31-year-old former private security worker, has been held at Chiang Rai Central Prison since September 18, 2025. In an account shared publicly, he described problems with food and water. He said prison meals are often hard for him to eat, so he buys extra food for at least one meal and mixes it with prison food.
He also said the utility water doesn’t feel clean even after filtering. He claimed the drinking water smells like chlorine, and he said sediment appears if it sits. Because of that, he reported that many inmates buy bottled water.
For bathing water, he said he frequently develops rashes and has experienced acne with pus. He linked these issues to water cleanliness.
He also said that two days near the end of February, the prison limited water use. He described a period when taps were not turned on, and inmates were told to conserve water. He added that bathing, which he said was already limited, became even shorter.
In his description, inmates could only pass quickly through a shower line made from a perforated pipe, and they did not bathe using buckets from a water tank. He also said inmates were allowed to bathe only once, around 1:40 PM, and he did not know the reason.
