The Long Game: Systemic Change in Thai Criminal Justice

What does it take to implement investigative interviewing across an entire nation's criminal justice system? In this episode, recorded in Hua Hin, Thailand, Dr Ivar Fahsing speaks with Ms. Santanee Ditsayabut — senior prosecutor at the Office of the Attorney General of Thailand and Director of the Secretariat of the Nitivajra Institute — about Thailand's landmark efforts to embed ethical, evidence-based interviewing practices across its justice system.

Santanee shares the story of Thailand's PEACE Program Informity: a multi-year, multi-agency initiative bringing together prosecutors, police, special investigators from the DSI, judges, and officers from across government. She speaks candidly about the challenges of changing practitioner mindset, overcoming the myth that investigative interviewing is too time-consuming, and the critical role of policy-level support in sustaining real change.

The conversation explores how Thai cultural values of respect and dignity align naturally with the ethos of ethical interviewing — and how understanding memory science and cognitive bias transforms the way practitioners approach evidence gathering. Santanee also discusses the important role of judges in evaluating evidence accurately, and why legislative reform may be needed to support long-term implementation.

The episode marks a historic milestone: Thailand is certifying its first national PEACE trainers and champions, positioning the country as a leader in investigative interviewing across Asia.

In this episode:

• Thailand's PEACE Program Informity and how it brings the full justice chain together
• Why investigative interviewing must be understood as a skill, not a theory
• Confirmation bias, tunnel vision, and the science of memory
• The role of judges in evidence evaluation — and what happens when they lack that knowledge
• Building sustainable change by training future policymakers alongside practitioners
• How technology, including recording and AI transcription, supports implementation
• Thailand certifying its first national PEACE trainers

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is the podcast from Davidhorn, exploring investigative interviewing and digital evidence with experts from around the world.