"Reintegration support must begin inside prison, not after release. Waiting until the final day of incarceration to prepare someone for life in the community is simply too late."
Dr. Phiset Sa-ardyen, Executive Director of the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ), delivered this message via video statement during the side event titled “Approaches to Reducing Reoffending through Treatment and Social Reintegration Support in Correctional Facilities” at the 35th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) on June 2, 2026, in Vienna, Austria.
TIJ recognizes the significance of the Kyoto Model Strategies for offender rehabilitation and reintegration as a strategic framework to reduce reoffending. Endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2025, TIJ is strongly committed to leveraging these strategies, alongside relevant international standards, to elevate the Thai justice system. This commitment is demonstrated through the commencement of the “Restart Academy”—a partnership platform bringing together more than 40 partners across government, civil society, and the private sector to equip individuals with practical vocational and life skills, allowing them to transform their lives and make a concrete fresh start.
The Executive Director of TIJ emphasized that key lessons learnt from the Restart Academy rely heavily on multi-sector collaboration, early intervention before release, and a strict focus on accountability and evaluation to ensure programs remain credible, effective, and scalable. He further stated that TIJ stands ready to collaborate with all sectors to share experiences on implementing the Kyoto Model Strategies effectively.
