The Catholic Bishops in Thailand have only recently added the responsibility of Prison Ministry to our service to migrants. The services that are offered to those in need, are consistentent with our attempts to reach out to help the poorest of the poor.

Personal visitations to prisoners who have had no one from the outside speak to them for some time provide real opportunities for service. Special needs can often be addressed such as contacting family or loved ones or by providing paper and stamps for their writing letters, provide basic necessities or something small that can enrich their lives. The emotional support is the most important gift.

Prisoners often lack minimal necessities, such as clothes and other items necessary for their own hygiene. Prison officials have cooperated with our efforts; groups of Thai prisoners, usually about 40, who have had no visitors for some time and no financial resources of their own, can be assembled to receive a package of necessities and loving contact with people who care about them from the outside. Packages include soap, tooth-paste and tooth-brush, shampoo, pen and paper. This required special permission difficult to obtain, but we attempt to do this as often as possible.

The warm response given people who demonstrate their care and love with visitations are richly rewarding. This is a natural activity for volunteers. Americans, for example, can visit English speaking prisoners and discover their efforts are mutually fulfilling. All social workers working for NCCM&P visit prisoners.

Prisoners have been given sentences for periods of time determined by courts of law in Thailand. Services to those detained at the Immigration Detention Center for immigration violations will be discussed separately.