Caring for Pregnant Female Inmates Awaiting Trial in Thailand: “Threads of Life Behind High Walls”

Abstract

Pregnant women awaiting trial represent one of the most vulnerable groups within the criminal justice system, with multifaceted needs that span physical health, mental well-being, nutrition, family relationships, and social stability. These unique needs require a highly structured, sensitive, and holistic approach to care - particularly within the context of the Central Women’s Correctional Institution, where the number of women awaiting trial has steadily increased in recent years. This demographic shift has intensified the demands related to welfare provision, rights protection, and comprehensive health care for pregnant inmates. In response, the institution has expanded and refined its operational framework to encompass multiple dimensions, including the establishment of a Mother and Child Center, the provision of antenatal services within the prison by medical specialists, coordinated childbirth arrangements with external hospitals, tailored nutritional support, targeted health-promoting activities, and the creation of an environment conducive to early childhood development. These efforts operate in parallel with mental-health services delivered by a multidisciplinary team. Social workers play a pivotal role within this system of care, undertaking individualized needs assessments, coordinating interdisciplinary services, safeguarding rights, and providing counseling to support appropriate adjustment during pregnancy under custodial conditions. These functions align with international human rights standards, global guidelines on the treatment of women prisoners, and national legal frameworks that prioritize the dignity and well-being of both mother and child.

This article examines the model of care for pregnant women awaiting trial at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution through an analysis grounded in international standards, Thai legal frameworks, and practical implementation within the correctional environment. The findings illustrate that a comprehensive, rights-based approach to care can effectively reduce health and psychosocial risks for pregnant inmates and their infants. Moreover, it underscores the advancement of Thailand’s correctional practices toward a system rooted in humanity, fairness, equality, and respect for human dignity-core principles of a civilized society that values every life, even within the constraints of incarceration.