The House subcommittee on prison reform invited four former inmates to share their experiences and propose improvements in welfare, healthcare and rehabilitation.
Their suggestions included better medical treatment along with vocational training consistent with the needs of the modern-day job market.
The hearing was organised by the House Subcommittee on Justice, Quality of Life, Access to Healthcare for Prisoners and Social Reintegration chaired by Democrat party-list MP Radklao Inthawong Suwannakiri.
Those invited to testify were rock musician Seksan Sookpimay, better known as Sek Loso, and three former inmates known by pennames - L Oras (Sarayut Srikamnoed), Earn Wat Yai (Naphanan Thongkluea) and Lang Phra Nakhon (Akarin Puri).
Ms Radklao said the subcommittee wanted sustainable reforms in four key areas: improved justice and legal access for inmates, better living conditions and education in prisons, expanded access to quality healthcare, and better rehabilitation through vocational training and cooperation with the private sector to reduce repeat offending.
Earn Wat Yai, who spent 21 years and eight months in prison, said rehabilitation should focus not only on vocational skills but also on moral development and personal growth.
"Inmates are part of society," he said. "If they are treated as worthless, they will remain worthless. But if society recognises their value, they can become valuable members of the community."
He argued that long-term prisoners should receive education and practical job training instead of remaining idle.
"Current prison training often focuses on folding paper bags or repairing shoes. Those skills are difficult to use to build a livelihood on after release," he said.
Instead, prisons should offer training in occupations such as barbering, video editing, computer technology, artificial intelligence and the arts. He noted that many inmates who spend decades behind bars struggle to adapt to today's rapidly changing society upon their release, increasing the risk of recidivism.
L Oras urged authorities to lift standards of healthcare services for prisoners, saying medical treatment often failed to match patients' actual conditions.
Inmates suffering from varioius illnesses frequently received only paracetamol, he said. Those with stomach ailments were commonly given oral rehydration salts and sugar solutions, and prisoners with knee problems were sometimes prescribed muscle relaxants instead of appropriate treatment.
He called on authorities to review prison healthcare policies and provide inmates with proper medical attention, including referrals to outside hospitals when necessary.
