CORRECTIONS

the reformers
Rhem Rick N. Corpuz

Historical Perspective of Corrections:

13th Century – Securing Sanctuary
- In the 13th century, a criminal could avoid punishment by claiming refuge in a church for a
period of 40 days.
16th Century – Transportation of criminals in England was authorized. At the end of this century,
Russia and other European Countries followed this system. This practice was abandoned in 1835.
Gaols - (jails) – the description given to pretrial detention facilities operated by English sheriff in
England during the 18th century.
Galleys – long, low, narrow, single decked ships propelled by sails, usually rowed by criminals. A
type of ship used for transportation of criminals in the 16th century.
Hulks – these are former warships used to house prisoners in the 18th and 19th century.
- These were abandoned warships converted into prisons as means of relieving
congestion of prisons. They were called as the floating hells.
Ordeal – is the church’s substitute for a trial until the 13th century wherein guilt or innocence was
determined by the ability of the accused of being unscathed through dangerous and painful test.
Charlemagne (Carolus Magnus)– gave bishops the power to act as real judges which enabled bishop
tribunal to rule on secular matters.
- King of Franks and Roman Emperor.

EARLY CODES:
1. Babylonian and Sumerian Codes
Code of King Hammurabi (Hammurabic Code) – Babylon, credited as the oldest code prescribing
savage punishment. But in fact, Sumerian codes were nearly 100 years older.

2. Roman and Greek Codes

a. Justinian Code – 6th century AD, Emperor Justinian of Rome wrote his code of law. An effort to
match a desirable amount of punishment to all possible crimes. However, the law did not survive
due to the fall of the Roman Empire but left a foundation of Western Legal codes.
The Twelve Tables (451-450 BC) – represented the earliest codification of Roman law incorporated
into the Justinian code.
b. Greek Code of Draco – Greece, a harsh code that provides the same punishment for both citizens
and the slaves as it incorporates primitive concepts.
- The Greeks were the first to allow any citizen to prosecute the offender in the name of
the injured party.

3. The Burgundian Code (500 AD) – it specified punishment according to the social class of
offenders, dividing them into: Nobles, Middle class and Lower class and specifying the value of the
life of each person according to social status.
EARLY PRISONS
Mamertine Prison – the only early Roman place of confinement which is built under the main
sewer of Rome in 64 B.C.
Bridewell (1557) – the most popular workhouse in London which was built for the employment and
housing of English prisoners.
- used for locking up vagrants, beggars, prostitutes and other misfits
Saint Bridget’s Well – England’s first house of correction.
Walnut Street Jail – originally constructed as a detention jail in Philadelphia. It was converted into a
state prison and became the first American Penitentiary.
Hospicio de San Michelle –the first home for delinquent boys ever established. Built by Pope
Clement XI in Rome for housing incorrigible youths under 20 years of age.

The Pioneers:
1. William Penn (1614-1716)
He is the first leader to prescribe imprisonment as correctional treatment for major
offenders.
He is also responsible for the abolition of death penalty and torture as a form of
punishment.
He fought for religious freedom and individual rights

2. Charles Montesquieu (Charles Louis Secondat, Baron de la Brede et de Montesiquieu – 1689 –

1755)
A French historian and philosopher who analyzed law as an expression of justice. He
believed that harsh punishment would undermine morality and that appealing to moral
sentiments as a better means of preventing crime.
3. VOLTAIRE (Francois Marie Arouet, 1694-1778)
He believes that fear of shame was a deterrent to crime. He fought the legality-
sanctioned practice of torture.
4. Cesare Beccaria (Cesare Bonesa, Marchese de Beccaria, 1738-1794)
- He wrote an essay entitled “ An Essay on Crimes and Punishment”. This book became
famous as the theoretical basis for the great reforms in the field of criminal law. This book also
provided a starting point for the classical school of criminal law and criminology.
5. Jeremy Bentham – (1748-1832)
the greatest leader in the reform of English Criminal Law. He believes that whatever
punishment designed to negate whatever pleasure or gain the criminal derives from crime, the
crime rate would go down.
He devise the ultimate Panopticon Prison – a prison that consists of a large circular
building containing multi cells around the periphery but it was never built.
6. John Howard (1726-1790) – the “Great Prison Reformer”
The sheriff of Bedsfordshire in 1773 who devoted his life and fortune to prison reform.
After his findings on English Prisons, he recommended the following:
single cells for sleeping
segregation of women
segregation of youth
provision of sanitation facilities
abolition of the fee system by which jailers obtained money from prisoner
7. Alexander Macanochie – He is the Superintendent of the penal colony at Norfolk Island in
Australia (1840) who introduced the Mark System. A progressive humane system in which a
 prisoner is required to earn a number of marks based on proper department, labor and study in
order to entitle him for ticket for leave or conditional release which is similar to parole.

Macanochie’s Mark System cosnsist of 5 stages:

-Strict custody upon admission to the penal colony
-Work on government gangs
-Limited freedom on the island within a prescribed area
-Ticket of leave
-Full restoration of liberty

8. Manuel Montesimos – The Director of Prisons in Valencia Spain (1835) who divided the number
of prisoners into companies and appointed certain prisoners as petty officers in charge, which
allowed good behavior to prepare the convict for gradual release.

9. Domets of France – Established an agricultural colony for delinquent boys in 1839 providing
housefathers as in charge of these boys.

10. Sir Evelyn Ruggles Brise – The Director of the English Prison who opened the Borstal institution
for young offenders.
Borstal Institution – is considered as the best reform institution for young offenders
today

11. Walter Crofton – he is the director of the Irish Prison in 1854 who introduced the Irish system
that was modifies from the Macanochie’s mark system.

12. Zebulon Brockway – the Director of the Elmira Reformatory in New York (1876) who introduced
certain innovational programs like the following training school type, compulsory education of
prisoners, casework methods, extensive use of parole, indeterminate sentence.
The Elmira Reformatory – considered as the forerunner of modern penology because it
had all the elements of a modern system.

13. Jean Jacques Philippe Villain –founded the Maison de Force in Gent, Belgium. He introduced:
a. felons and misdemeanants should be separated and
b. women and children must have separate quarters

14. Fred T. Wilkinson - the last warden of Alcatraz Prison

15. James Bennet – director of Federal Bureau of Prisons who wrote about the closing of Alcatraz
Prison.

Alcatraz Prison
- opened in 1934, closed on March 31, 1963 but it was costly on operation.
When it closed, it has 260 inmates.
- now, a tourist destination in New York.
 Australia
– the place which was a penal colony before it became a country.
- convicted criminals in England were transported to Australia, a colony of Great
Britain when transportation was adopted in 1790 to 1875

Two Rival Prison Systems in the History of Corrections:

1. The Auburn Prison System – also known as the “Congregate System”

- The prisoners are confined in their own cells during the night and congregate work in shops
during the day. Complete silence was enforced.

2. The Pennsylvania Prison System – also known as the “Solitary System”

- Prisoners are confined in single cells day and night where they lived, slept, ate and receive
religious instructions. Complete silence was also required.
- Prisoners are required to read the bible

CORRECTIONS

- The branch of the administration of Criminal Justice charged with the responsibility for the
custody, supervision and rehabilitation of convicted offenders.
- The fourth pillar of the CJS
- Considered as the weakest pillar of the CJS

2 FORMS OF CORRECTIONS:
1. INSTITUTIONALIZED CORRECTION
- The rehabilitation of offenders in jail or prison.
2. COMMUNITY BASED CORRECTION
- Refers to correctional activities that may take place within the community.

PURPOSES OF CONFINEMENT:
 To segregate offenders from society; and
 To rehabilitate him so that upon his return to the society he shall be responsible and law abiding
citizen.

2 legal grounds for detaining a person:

1. commission of a crime
2. violent insanity or any other ailment that needs compulsory confinement in a hospital.

Admission Procedures in Prison:

1. receiving;
2. Checking commitment papers;
3. Establishing identity of the prisoner;
4. Searching the prisoner;
5. Assignment to quarters

Quarantine Unit or Cell:

 it is a unit or cell in the prison or jail or a section of the RDC where the prisoners are given
thorough physical examination including blood test, x-rays, inoculation and vaccination.
Purpose:
to insure that the new prisoner is not suffering from any contagious disease which might
be transferred to other prisoners.

PRE-RELEASE TREATMENT
It is the program specifically designed and given to a prisoner, during a limited period,
prior to his release, in order to give him an opportunity to adjust himself from the regimented group
like in prison to the normal, independent life of a free individual.

INSTITUTIONAL CUSTODY, SECURITY AND CONTROL

Aims of institutional security:
1. To prevent escape;
2. To control entry of contrabands;
3. Maintenance of good order

CUSTODY – Defined as the guarding of penal safekeeping. It involves security measures, locking and
counting routines, produces for searching prisoners and their living quarters, and prevention of
contraband.

CONTROL – It involves supervision of prisoners to insure punctual and orderly movement to and
from the dormitories, places of work, church, hospitals, and recreational facilities in accordance with
the daily schedule.

Contraband - anything that is contrary to prison rules and regulations

Prison Discipline – it is the continuing state of good order and behavior in prison. It includes the
maintenance of good standards of work, sanitation, safety, education, personal health and
recreation.

PREVENTION DISCIPLINE – Involves prompt correction of minor deviations before they become
serious violations, which may be dealt with a reprimand or warning and is used when the deviation
is:
 trivial
 due to ignorance or lack of understanding; or
 the result of careless or faulty habits.

DIVERSIFICATION - Is an administrative device of correctional institutions of providing varied and

flexible types of physical plants for the effective control of the treatment programs of its diversified
population.
- Diversification may be done either:
a. By a building special institution for different classed of prisoners which is more
desirable since it provides proper segregation of groups and more effective
execution of the treatment program, or
b. Providing separate facilities within a single institution itself, that is, big institution may
be broken into smaller units.
 - FACTORS CONSIDERED IN DIVERSIFICATION
a. AGE
b. SEX
c. MEDICAL OR MENTAL CONDITIONS
d. DEGREE OF CUSTODY – the most common used factor in diversification

RECEPTION AND DIAGNOSTIC CENTER (RDC) - This is a special unit of prison where new prisoners
undergo diagnostic examination, study and observation for determining the program of treatment
and training best suited to their needs and the institution to which they should be transferred.
- RDC’s STAFF
 PSYCHIATRISTS
 PSYCHOLOGISTS
 SOCIOLOGISTS
 EDUCATIONAL COUNSELOR
 VOCATIONAL COUNSELOR
 CHAPLAIN
 MEDICAL OFFICER
 COSTODIAL CORRECTIONAL

THE CLASSIFICATION PROCESS

Classification- The assigning or grouping of inmates according to their sentence, gender, age,
nationality, health, criminal records, dangerousness, etc.

FOUR SEPARATE BUT COORDINATED PROCEDURES OF CLASSIFICATION

1. DIAGNOSIS – the prisoners’ case history is taken and his personality studied. Through examination
and observations, the RDC’s staff determines the nature and extent of the person’s
criminality and the extent to which he may be rehabilitated.

2. TREATMENT PLANNING – this is the formulation of a tentative treatment program best suited to
the needs and interest of an individual prisoner, based on the findings of the RDC’s staff.

3. EXECUTION OF TREATMENT PROGRAM - this is in the application of the treatment program and
policies by the classification committee.

4. RE-CLASIFICATION – the treatment program is kept current with the inmates changing needs and
with new analysis, based on any information not available at the time of the initial
classification committee meeting of the inmate’s case, which continues from the time of
the first classification until the inmates is released.
PRISON
– an institution for the imprisonment of persons convicted by final judgment and with a penalty
of more than 3 years.
Note: all inmates here are all convicted
Note: the population of jail and prison including penal farms and colonies except the
personnel are called inmates, prisoners with the exception of jails whose
inmates are undergoing trial of their respective cases are called detainees.

BUREAU OF PRISONS
- Have the general supervision and control of national, provincial prisons and all penal
settlements and is charged with the safekeeping of all prisoners confined therein.
BILIBID PRISON
- Built on 1847. It became the central confinement for all Filipino offenders by virtue of
the Royal Decree of the Spanish Crown. (May Haligui Estate)

1936
- City of Manila exchange its Muntinlupa property composed of 552 hectares piece of
land with the Bureau of Prisons lot in Manila.
- N.B. Bilibid Prison is now being used by the Manila City Government as Manila City Jail

E.O. 292
– otherwise known as Revised Administrative Code of 1987
- Sections 1705 – 1751, Revised Administrative Code of 1987 :The Prison Law in the
Philippines
- It renamed the Bureau of Prisons to Bureau of Corrections

New Bilibid Prison – located in Muntinlupa City.

2 Satellites:
1. Camp Bukang Liwayway (Minimum Security Camp) – house minimum custody prisoners who
work in various projects of the institution.
2. Camp Sampaguita (Medium Security Camp) – house medium security prisoners
- where RDC is located

DIFFERENT PENAL COLONIES IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm

- Founded by Captain Ramon Blanco of the Spanish Royal Army. It was established for the
confinement of Filipino Political offenders. (Located in Zamboanga del Sur)
- Has an area of 1,246 hectares.
- established on August 21, 1869.

2. Iwahig Penal Colony and Farm

- Founded by Governor Forbes who led the first contingent of prisoners. It was used originally
for the confinement of incorrigibles and intractable prisoners. In 1905, it was
reconverted for the confinement of well behave and tractable prisoners.
(Reorganization Act 1407)
 - It has a land total area of 36,000 hectares.
- Established on Nov. 16, 1904
- 4 sub-colonies of the Iwahig penal Colony and Farm.
a. Inagawan Sub-colony
b. Montible Sub-colony
c. Santa lucia Sub-colony
d. Central Sub-colony

3. Davao Penal Colony and farm (January 21, 1932)

-Founded by Gen. Paulino Santos. Created by virtue of act 3732 and Proclamation 414 series of
1931.
-Mostly devoted to abaca and banana plantation.
-In 1942, it was used as a concentration camp for American Prisoners of War
-The main source of income of the Bureau of Corrections. It consist of 18,000 hectares

4. Sablayan Penal Colony and Farm

-Founded on Sept. 27, 1954 by virtue of Proclamation Number 72 dated September 27, 1954.
-It consists of 16,000 hectares in Sablayan, Occidental, Mindoro

5. Ilo-ilo Penal Colony and Farm (Ilo-ilo province)

6. Leyte regional Prison (Abuyog, Leyte)

- established on January 16, 1973 during the martial law with the aim of regionalizing prisons in
the country.

7. Correctional Institution for Women (Found in Mandaluyong City)

- It was established in 1931 by virtue of Act 3579 passed on November 27, 1929
- Consists of 18 hectares

N.B.:
- The oldest prison in the Philippines is the Fort Santiago in Manila.
- Only the New Bilibid Prison and CIW confine death convicts.
- all the prison and penal farms have minimum, medium and maximum security facilities

Who is a Prisoner?
- a person committed to jail or prison by a competent authority for any of the ff. reasons:
1. to serve a sentence after conviction
2. trial
3. investigation

Classification of Prisoners:
1. Sentenced prisoners – those who are convicted by final judgment and under the
jurisdiction of a penal institution.
2. Detention Prisoners – those who were detained for the violation of law and have not yet
convicted.
3. Those who are on safekeeping
Classification of sentenced prisoners:
1. Insular/national prisoners – sentenced to more than 3 years or a fine of more than 1,000 or
both.
2. City prisoners – sentenced to less than 3 years or a fine of less than 1,000 or both.
3. Provincial prisoners – 6 months and 1 day to 3 years or a fine not more than 1,000 or both.
4. Municipal prisoners – not more than 6 months

Classification Of Prisoners According To Degree Of Custody/Dangerousness

1. Maximum Security – This shall include highly dangerous or high security risk as determined by
the classification board who require a high degree of control.
- Who are Maximum Security Prisoners?
 Those sentenced to death
 Those whose minimum sentence is 20 years imprisonment
 Remand inmates or detainees whose sentence is 20 years and above
and those whose sentence is under review by the SC
 Those with pending cases
 Recidivists, habitual delinquents and escapees
 Those confined at the RDC
 Those under disciplinary punishment or safekeeping
 Those who are criminally insane or with sever personality disorders or
emotional disorders

2. Medium Security - This shall include those who cannot be trusted in less secured areas and those
whose conduct or behavior require minimum supervision.
- Who are Medium Security Prisoners?
 Those whose minimum sentence is less than 20 years imprisonment
 Remand inmates or detainees whose sentences are below 20 years
 Those who are 18 years of age and below, regardless of the case and
sentence

3. Minimum Security - This shall include those who can be reasonably trusted to serve their
sentences under less restricted conditions.
- Who are Minimum Security Prisoners?
 Those with severe physical handicap as certified by the chief medical
officer of the prison
 Those who are 65 years of age and above, without pending case and
whose convictions are not on appeal
 Those who have serve ½ of their minimum sentence or 1/3 of their
maximum sentence, excluding GCTA
 Those who have 6 months more to serve before the expiration of their
maximum sentence.

Color of Uniforms of Inmates as to Security Classification

1. Maximum Security – tangerine/orange
2. Medium Security – blue
3. Minimum Security – brown
4. Detainee – gray
Prohibited Acts in Prison:
1. Participating in illegal sexual acts or placing himself in situations or behavior that will
encourage the commission of illegal sexual acts;
2. Openly or publicly displaying photographs, pictures, drawings, or other pictorial
representations of persons engaged in sexual acts, actual or simulated, masturbation,
excretory functions or lewd or obscene exhibitions of the genitals;
3. Possessing articles which pose a threat to prison security or to the safety and well being of the
inmates and staff;
4. Giving gifts, selling or engaging in barter with prison personnel;
5. Maligning or insulting any religious belief or group;
6. Rendering personal services to or requiring personal services from a fellow inmate;
7. Gambling, etc.

PUNISHMENT IMPOSED IN DISCIPLINARY CASES:

1. Solitary confinement – applicable in extreme case especially when there is danger that the
prisoner may hurt himself or others.
2. Locking in his cell with loss of yard privileges
3. Loss of privileges such as visiting, correspondence and other privileges
4. Transfer to another institution
5. Assignment to a disciplinary squad for manual labor
6. Counsel and reprimand – imposed in trivial cases
7. Loss of Good Conduct Time Allowance

GOOD CONDUCT TIME ALLOWANCE (GCTA)

- A reward for good conduct whereby a prisoner receives partial reduction of his prison
sentence.
- The Prisoner is entitled to reduction of:
a. 5 days each month of good behavior during his first 2 years
b. 8 days each month of good behavior during his 3rd to 5th years
c. 10 days each month during his 6th to 10th years
d. 15 days each month reduction during the 11th and succeeding years

Act No. 3316

– The law that provides for the formal basis for the grant of GCTA for prisoners

SPECIAL TIME ALLOWANCE FOR LOYALTY

- A deduction of 1/5 of the period of his sentence shall be granted to any prisoner who
having evaded the service of his sentence under circumstances mentioned in Art. 158 of the
RPC, gives himself up to the authorities within 48 hours following the issuance of proclamation
announcing the passing away of calamity, catastrophe such as earthquake, conflagration,
mutiny, etc.

GROUND FOR INCREASING PENALTY

- 1/5 of the remaining sentence of the prisoner shall be added to his sentence if he fails
to surrender himself to the authority when he escape from prison under circumstances
enumerated in Art. 158 of the RPC. Provided, however, that the added sentence should not
exceed 6 months.
 Plans for Emergency in Prison

Procedures in dealing with riots or disturbances

a. At the sound of the first alarm, all inmates shall be locked up inside their respective
cells/quarters. Inmate work crew shall immediately returned to the prison compound or previously
designated areas for accounting and confinement after a head.
b. If the disturbance occurs during visiting hours, all visitors shall immediately ushered out of
prison compound or if this is not possible, brought to a pre-determined area inside said compound.
In the latter case, the visitors shall not be allowed to leave the said area or the compound until
disturbance has ceased and the inmates have been properly identified.
c. At the same time, all guards who are not on duty shall be directed to immediately report to
the desk officer. All critical posts shall be manned to prevent escapes. The most senior guard
present shall take command of the custodial force and make assessment of the situation.
d. All telephone calls to and from the prison compound shall be controlled
e. Based on the assessment of the prevailing condition by the OIC, he may deploy the guards in
the following groups:
1. 1st Group – the initial wave of anti-riot contingent whose purpose is to disperse
rioters. They are armed with wicker shields, headgears, gas masks and batons.
2. 2nd Group – equipped with teargas guns and gas grenades.
3. 3rd Group – trained in proper handling and use of firearms.

After the riot, the following procedure shall be followed:

a. Conduct head count
b. Segregate ringleaders and agitators
c. Assess and determine the damage to the facilities
d. Investigate the cause of the riot
e. Repair damages
f. Adopt measures to prevent similar incident
g. Administer first aid to the injured
h. Submit a report of the incident to the secretary

JAILS
- An institution for the confinement of persons who are awaiting final disposition of their
criminal cases and also for the service of those convicted and punished with shorter sentence
usually up to three years.

CATEGORIES OF INMATES CONFINED IN JAIL

a. Those awaiting/undergoing investigation
b. Those who are awaiting/undergoing trial
c. Those who are awaiting final judgment
d. Those who are serving short sentences up to three years

Types of Jail
1. Lock-up jail – is a security facility for the temporary detention of person held for
investigation or awaiting preliminary hearing.
2. Ordinary jail – houses both offenders awaiting court action and those serving short
sentences usually up to 3 years.
 3. Workhouse jail farm or camp – houses minimum custody offenders serving short
sentences with constructive work programs.

BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY (BJMP)

- It was created pursuant to Sec. 60, R.A. 6975. Headed by a Chief with the rank of Director to be
assisted by the Assistant Chief of the Jail Bureau.
-It has the mission to direct, supervise and control the administration and operation of all
district, city and municipal jails to effect a better system of jail management nationwide.

Coverage of Supervision by the Jail Bureau

1. City jails
2. Municipal jails
3. District jails

Qualifications of jail Officers assigned in Key positions in the Bureau

A. Chief, BJMP
 Shall have the rank of director in the jail bureau;
 He must be a member of the Philippine Bar; or
 a holder of Master’s Degree in national Security Administration or any relevant
Master’s Degree;
 He must have an adequate experience in positions of responsibility and leadership of
at least one year in each of the following fields:
a. operations
b. administration

B. Deputy Chief
 Shall have the rank of Chief Superintendent in the jail bureau;
 A member of the Philippine bar; or
 A holder of relevant Master’s Degree; or
 A Baccalaureate Degree with at least 9 years experience in jail or police work;
 He must have an adequate experience in positions of responsibility and leadership of
at least one year for each field in the following:
-operations
-Administration
-ARD/Chief of Staff/Chief of Division, Central office

C. Assistant Regional Director

 Have the rank of Senior Superintendent;
 Must have undergone the Officer’s Executive career Course or its equivalent;
 Must at least be a Bachelor’s Degree holder in law, criminology, psychology, psychiatry,
social work or sociology;
 Must have previously assigned in supervisory position in jail bureau.
 D. Provincial Jail Administrator
 Have the rank of superintendent
 Must have undergone the Officer’s Executive Career Course or its equivalent; must be a
bachelor’s degree holder, preferably in law, criminology, psychology, psychiatry, social
work or sociology;
 Have been previously assigned in supervisory position in the jail bureau.

E. District Jail Warden

 Have the rank of Chief Inspector;
 A bachelor’s degree holder, preferably in law, criminology, psychology, psychiatry,
nursing, social work or sociology;
 Must have undergone the Officer’s Advance Course or its equivalent;
 Has been assigned in supervisory position in police or jail service.

F. City and Municipal Jail Warden

 Shall have the rank of Chief Inspector
 Must be a bachelor’s degree holder, preferably in law, criminology, psychology, nursing,
social work or sociology
 Has been assigned in supervisory position in the police or jail service.

Composition of Classification Board/Disciplinary Board in Jail

 Chairman -Assistant Warden
 Members -Chief, security Officer
-Medical Officer/Public Health Officer
-Jail Chaplain
-Social Worker/ Rehabilitation Officer

BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS (BUCOR)

The Bureau of Corruption is tasked with the following functions:
a. To confine persons who have been convicted of a criminal offense by the courts to
serve sentence in a penal institution.
b. To provide correctional environment which seeks to protect the physical and
emotional well being of offenders.
c. To provide humane treatment by affording them human basic needs the correctional
community and prohibiting cruel methods rehabilitation.
d. To provide opportunities for rehabilitation programs designed to change the
offenders’ pattern of criminal or anti-social behavior.
e. To engage in agro-industrial endeavors to develop penal farms into productive profit
center that employs offender manpower skills and labor and provide a source of
income to supplement the Bureau’s financial outlet.
f. To perform other functions that maybe directed by the Secretary of Justice of other
competent authorities.
BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY (BJMP)
The BJMP shall exercise supervision and control over all district, city and municipal jails to
ensure “a secured, clean, sanitary and adequately equipped jail for the custody and safekeeping of
city and municipal prisoners, any fugitive from justice or persons detained awaiting investigation or
trial and/or transfer to the National Penitentiary, and any violent, mentally-ill persons who
endangers himself or others.”

PRIVELEGES OF DETENTION AND SENTENCED PRISONERS

Detainees may enjoy the following privileges:
1. To wear their own clothes while in confinement;
2. To write letter, subject to reasonable censors, provided expenses shall be borne by
them;
3. To receive visitors during daytime;
4. To receive books, letters, magazines, newspapers and other periodicals that the jail
authorities may allow.
5. To be treated by the Health Services or by their own doctor or dentist at their own
expense upon proper application and approval.
6. To be treated in a government or private hospital, provided it is authorized by the
court at their own expense.
7. To request free legal aid if available and enjoy the right to be visited by their counsel
anytime.
8. To grow hair in their customary style provided it is decent and allowed by the rules.
9. To receive fruits prepared food, subject to inspection and conformity by the jail
officials.
10. To smoke cigarettes, except in prohibited places;
11. To read books and other reading materials available in the jail premises; and
12. To perform such other works as may be necessary for hygienic and sanitary

Except for the wearing of prescribed prisoners uniform, all the privileges of detainees mentioned
above may be enjoyed by sentenced prisoners.

RIGHTS OF PERSON UNDER DETENTION

 The right to be assisted by counsel of his own choice at all times.
 Right to be informed of his right to remain silent.
 Right to be visitation by any member of his immediate family or any medical doctor or priest
or religious ministers chosen by him or any member of his immediate family, or by his counsel or
by any national non-governmental organizations duly accredited by the CHR or by any
institution and non-governmental organizations duly accredited by the office of the President.

Definition of Terms
 Penal Management – refers to the manner or practice of managing or controlling place of
punishment or jail.
 Correction – it is the study of jail/prison management and administration as well as
rehabilitation and reformation of prisoners and detainees.
 Penology – a branch of criminology which deals with management and administration of
inmates.
 Jail – a place of confinement for inmates under investigation, awaiting or undergoing trial or
serving sentence.
 Rehabilitation – a program of activity directed to restore an inmate’s self-respect thereby
making him a law-abiding citizen after serving his sentence.
 Safekeeping – the temporary custody of a person for his own protection, safety or care; and or
his security from harm, injury or danger for the liability he has committed.
 Inmate – Either a prisoner or detainee confined in jail.
 Detainee – a person accused before a court or competent authority who is temporarily confined
in jail while undergoing investigation, awaiting final judgement.
 Prisoner – an inmate who is convicted by final judgement and classified as insular, provincial,
city or municipal prisoner.
 Commitment – means the entrusting for confinement of an inmate to a jail by competent court
or authority for investigation, trial and/or service of sentence.
 Commitment Order – a written order of the court or any other competent authority consigning
an offender to a jail or prison for confinement.
 Mittimus – a warrant issued by the court bearing its seal and the signature of the judge directing
the jail or prison authorities to receive the convicted offender for service of sentence or
detention.
 Detention Mittimus – is an order issued by a competent court addressed to the jailer or prison
officer to receive a person for having committed a criminal offense for safe custody, subject to
the order of the court.
 Sentence Mittimus – is an order of a competent court, addressed to the jailer or prison officer
to receive a person after conviction from the offense charged to serve a penalty of
imprisonment or subsidiary imprisonment as the case may be.
 Contraband – any article, item, or thing prohibited by law and/or forbidden by the jail rules.
 Escape – an act of getting out unlawfully from confinement or custody by an inmate.
- includes not only actually leaving the institution or grounds thereof by a detainee or
prisoner but also being “out of the place” at any time since the latter maybe tantamount to
attempting to escape.
 Instrument of Restraint – a device, contrivance, tool or instrument used to hold back, keep in,
check or control an inmate; e.g. handcuffs, leg irons.
 Classification – refers to the assigning or grouping of inmates according to their sentence,
gender, age, nationality, health, criminal records, etc.
 Custody – is the maintenance of care and protection accorded to people who by authority of
law are temporarily incarcerated for violation of law and also those who were sentenced by the
court to serve judgment.
 Security – is the task given to jail or prison administrators and custodial force personnel to
secure the entire establishment and to keep under constant watch the movements of inmates
or wards purposely to avoid involvement of detainees or prisoners for possible commission of
crimes and foremost to prevent any mass jail breaks and bloody gang wars among them while
under confinement.
 Control – is the systematic measures taken in ensuring that the movement of inmates are in
accordance with the standing policies, rules and regulations granted by the court, authorities or
administrators at all times.
 Degree of Custody – extent or strict keeping or charges necessary for a person in confinement.
 Lock –up – security facilities manned by the PNP, as their temporary jail facilities.
 Disorders – it refers to fighting or causing a disturbance or a riot and also other behaviors such s
; connivance, politicking, threatening or putting in fear.
 Good Conduct Time Allowance – are rewards for good conduct or behavior, whereby a prisoner
receives partial remission or reduction of his sentence.
 Diagnostic Treatment – the process of treating a person after determining by examination or
study the nature and circumstances of his condition.
 Homosexual – a person with sexual feeling for a person of the same sex, with an impulse
towards genital expression.
 Proselytizing – to convert or induce another to change his religious belief or sect.
 Sex Deviates – person who commits abnormal sex practices sometimes caused by physical,
grandular and mental differences.
 Sick Call – the time when prisoner affected with any disorder of health or illness will report to a
physician for examination or treatment.
 Suicide Risk – a prisoner/detainee prone of taking his own life.
 Tattooing – the act of pricking and making mark patterns on the skin with indelible pigment.
 Straight Jacket – an outer covering or coat designed to fasten the body for the purpose of
restricting the movement of a boisterous or unruly person.
 Inmate’s Privilege – a special right or power conferred on or possessed by one or more
individuals, in derogation of the general right. It is a peculiar benefit or favor not enjoyed by all.
- is something allowed or provided at the discretion of the Prison Authority and
it should be earned.
 Inmate’s Rights – is something the prison must allow to provide; it must be assured because it is
inherent in the “Great and Essential Principles of Liberty and Free Government”.

NOTES:
 RA 7659 – reimposition of death penalty on heinous crimes
 RA 8177 – designating death by lethal injection as the method of carrying out death penalty