Prison Fight

This article is about rehabilitation program. For other uses, see Prison violence.
Prison Fight
Founded2012; 12 years ago (2012)
PurposeRehabilitation of inmates[1]
HeadquartersBangkok, Thailand[2]
Key people
Kirill Sokur
Aree Chaloisuk
Thai Department of Corrections
Websitewww.prisonfight.com

Prison Fight is a controversial rehabilitation program for inmates through combat sports organized in partnership with the Thai Department of Corrections, an agency of the Thai Ministry of Justice.[2] The program gives Thai prisoners who are incarcerated former fighters the opportunity to take on foreign fighters in exchange for sentence reduction and even gain their freedom if they win.[3] If the inmates win sufficient amounts of fights against foreigners and have good behaviours, the Department of Corrections can reduce their sentences or even grant them a Royal pardon.[4][1] Prison Fight holds events inside various maximum security prisons in Thailand and provides inmates with money and equipment to prepare them to reintegrate society.[5] Convicts can engage in Muay Thai and Boxing matches in exchange for an early release.[6][7]

The program was featured in notable media outlets such as Esquire,[8] TIME,[1] Huffington Post,[1] New York Post,[4] Al Jazeera,[9] The Telegraph,[10] Vice,[11] Die Zeit,[12] Men's Journal[7] and Bangkok Post.[13]

  1. ^ a b c d Andrew, Andrew (2 February 2017). "Film Review: Prison Fighters: 5 Rounds to Freedom". Huffington Post.
  2. ^ a b Ghogomu, Mbiyimoh (19 September 2014). "The Prison in Thailand Where Inmates Fight Foreigners As Part of Their Rehab". Samui Times.
  3. ^ Claire Reid (21 June 2021). "Thai Prisoners Can 'Fight For Their Freedom' Via Unusual Rehabilitation Scheme". LAD Bible.
  4. ^ a b Kaplan, Michael (23 February 2017). "Inside the prison where murderers can be freed". New York Post.
  5. ^ Hotz, Alexander (8 October 2013). "Prison Fight! Inmates battle foreigners for freedom". Coconuts Bangkok.
  6. ^ Walker Van Wey (11 March 2021). "Cody Moberly's Unpredictable Rise to Infamy". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Men's Journal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference esquire was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Aljazeera was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference The telegraph was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Vice was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference die diet was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Prison fighters was invoked but never defined (see the help page).