INSTITUTIONAL

CORRECTIONS

Percentage Weight in Correctional Administration – 4% (40 items)

Desired Competencies:
1. Recall and explain the theories and principles of Penology, Punishment, Penalty,
Sentencing, and Rehabilitation, including the rights, legal limitations, and conditions set
forth by the Constitution, Law, and United Nations Declarations.
2. Describe, understand and apply the functions, organization, administration,
management, operations, planning, decision-making process, training, disciplinary
process, and accountability of personnel in the BJMP, Provincial Jail, BUCOR, and other
facilities.
3. Explain, use, and analyze the admission process of persons deprived of liberty, release
of persons deprived of liberty, security and safety processes and requirements of PDLs
inside the institution, visitation, movement, and escorting procedure, the trial of PDLs,
custody, control and disciplinary process of PDLs in the BJMP, Provincial Jail, BUCOR,
and other facilities.
4. Understand, apply and evaluate the principles, management, planning, and decision-
making of crises and incidents in the BJMP, Provincial Jail, BUCOR, and other facilities in
case of riot, escape, hostage, contrabands, fire, food poisoning, flood, earthquake,
typhoon, and other calamities and incidents.
 PENOLOGY
Penology
- that part of the science of criminology that studies the principles of punishment and the
management of prisons, reformatories and other confinement units
- derived from a Latin word “poenalis” which means “punishment” and from a Greek word “poene”
which means “penalty or fine”.
- coined by Francis Lieber

Correction
- includes all government agencies, facilities, programs, procedures, personnel, and techniques
concerned with the investigation, intake, custody, confinement, supervision, or treatment of alleged
offenders.
- branch of criminal justice concerned with the custody, supervision, and rehabilitation of convicted
offenders
- the study of the methods that have been and are employed for the punishment and deterrence of
such behavior and the study of the efforts to accompany punishment with measures that are
intended to change or correct the offender.

Correctional Administration
- the study and practice of a system management of jails or prisons and other institution concerned
with the custody, treatment and rehabilitation of criminal offenders.
Penal Management
- refers to the manner or practice of managing or controlling places of confinement as jails or prisons.

Revolutions in the History of Correction

1. Age of Reformations - replaced corporal punishments exile and physical disfigurements with the
penitentiary
2. Age of Rehabilitation - assumed that animals were handicapped persons suffering from mental or
emotional deficiencies
3. Age of Reintegration - society becomes the patients as well as the offender
Note: Golden Age of Penology – 1870-1880

Punishment
- the redress that the state takes against an offending member
- the general concept is the infliction of some sort of pain on the offender for violating the law
a. A collective responsibility – everyone in the social group was required to take part in at least
public condemnation of the offender with the intent of preventing the cause to spread
throughout the social group
b. A formal responsibility – carried out by professional specialist in the employ of governments

Early Codes of Punishment

Babylonian and Sumerian Codes
• Lex Talionis (eye for an eye) based on Sumerian Code (1860 B.C.)
• Code of King Hammurabi (1750 B.C.) – enacted by King Hammurabi, consists of 282 laws, with scaled
punishment, adjusting ‘’an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’’ of lex talionis as graded depending
on social status, of slaves versus free man.
Roman and Greek Codes
• Code of Justinian – the legal code of ancient Rome; codified under Justinian which is a revision of
the 12 tables of the Romans (Corpus Juris Civilis)
• Code of Draco in Greece – concept of public good is more important than individual injury or
vengeance, knows for its harsh punishments
Middle Ages
Reformation was viewed as a process of religious, not secular, redemption. The sinner had to pay two
debts, one to society and another to God.
• Burgundian Code (500 AD)
- restitution, punishment were met according to the social class of the offender
- he must pay specific value in order not to undergo physical sufferings as penalty but applied
only to nobility and middle classes
- death awaits the slaves

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 • Inquisition (1215)
- a former Roman Catholic tribunal for the discover and punishment of heresy which allowed
“Torture”.
- throughout this Dark Age Church can punish anyone

Ancient Forms of Punishment

• Death Penalty
- effected by burning, boiling in oil, breaking at the wheel, drowning, hanging, etc.
a. Underground Cistern – sentenced offenders will be hold and be starved to death
b. Stoning to Death – practiced in the time of Jesus that is still existed today in Islamic
countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan.
c. Breaking on the Wheel – offender’s body is fastened by metal bands to a board made of
wood and then had their bones systematically broken.
d. Burning Alive – made by Roman Catholic Church during the time of the inquisition for
unbelievers, witches and heretics
Priscillian – 1st recorded Christian who was put to death for being a heretic
e. Papal Encyclical “Excommunicamus” - by Pope Gregory IX, in 1231, initiated inquisition
that led to the burning of non-believers at the stake
f. Tarpeian Rock – this is where murderers and traitors are flung
g. Defenestration – throwing someone from a window
h. Death flights – victims are pushed out of planes and into the ocean to drown
i. Trephination Method – a piece of stone or wood which has very sharp edge that will use
to make a hole at the person’s forehead
• Physical Torture
- corporal punishment, effected by mutilation, maiming, whipping, etc.
a. whipping – offenders are tied to a “whipping post” and thrashed with a “cat-o-nine-tails”
(has a short handle whip with nine leather straps)
b. the rack – body is stretched until it has passed the point of pain
c. Scavengers Daughter – constricts the prisoner into a ball with iron clamps that bodies
are almost broken with compression
d. The Brank – a metal frame that was put in the head like a hat and a painful mouthpiece
was inserted in the mouth
• Social Degradation
- the purpose was to put the offender to shame or humiliation, effected by branding, use of
ducking stool, stocks, pillory, etc.
a. Ducking stools – chairs formerly used for punishment of disorderly women, scolds, and
dishonest tradesmen in England, Scotland, and elsewhere
b. Stocks – a kind of device that was fastened at the ankle, neck and wrist of offender for a
long period of time
c. Pillory – a wooden framework with holes for the head and hands, in which an offender
was imprisoned and exposed to public abuse
• Banishment
- a person will be rejected in the community, if he refuse to do so, he will be killed.
a. Destierro – banishment from not less than 25 km radius not more than 250 km radius in
the area
b. Exile or Banishment – England prisoners were sent to America in early 1618 as their
captive labor force for the development of colonies, also known as “transportation”.

Contemporary Form of Punishment

• Imprisonment – putting offenders in a prison for the purpose of protecting the public and at the
same time rehabilitating them by undergoing institutional treatment programs.
• Gaols – old legal term for Jail
• Ergastulum – a Roman prison where prisoners and slaves were forced to do hard labor while attached
to workbenches
• Galleys – used from the middle of 14th century to the beginning of 19th century where slaves are
chained to oar the ship
• Hulks – anchored in harbors through England and serves as floating confinement facilities

Justification of Punishment
a. Retribution – punishment of an offender was carried out in the form of vengeance.
b. Expiation or Atonement – this was in the form of group vengeance
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 c. Deterrence or Exemplarity – punishment gives lesson to the offender by showing to others what
would happen to them if they violate the law.
Kinds of Deterrence:
• Specific deterrence – punishing an individual so that he will not commit the crime again
• General deterrence – punishing an individual to set an example to society so that others will
not commit the same crime
d. Protection – by placing offenders in prison society is protected from further criminal depredation of
criminals
e. Reformation – society’s interest can be best served by helping the prisoner become a law-abiding
citizen and productive upon his return to the community by requiring him to undergo an intensive
program of rehabilitation.

Theories Justifying Imposition of Penalty/Punishment

• Prevention Theory – the state must punish the criminal to prevent or suppress the danger to the state
arising from the criminal acts of the offender.
• Self-defense Theory – the state has the right to punish the criminal as a measure of self-defense so
as to protect society from the threat and wrong inflicted by the criminal.
• Reformation Theory – the object of punishment is to correct and reform the offenders.
• Exemplary Theory – the criminal is punished to serve as an example to deter others from committing
crimes.
• Justice Theory – the crime must be punished by the state as an act of retributive justice, a vindication
of absolute right and moral law violated by the criminal.

Juridical Conditions of Penalty

1. Productive of suffering – without however affecting the integrity of the human personality.
2. Commensurate with the offense – different crimes must be punished with different penalties
3. Personal – the guilty one must be the one to be punished, no proxy
4. Legal – the consequence must be in accordance with the law
5. Equal – equal for all persons
6. Certain – no one must escape its effects
7. Correctional – changes the attitude of offenders and become law-abiding citizens

Durations of Penalty
• Reclusion Perpetua - 20 years and 1 day to 40 years
• Reclusion Temporal- 12 years and 1 day to 20 years
• Prision Mayor - 6 years and 1 day to 12 years
• Prision correccional - 6 months and 1 day to 6 years
• Arresto Mayor - 1 month and 1 day to 6 months
• Arresto Menor - 1 day to 30 days

Schools of Thought in Penology

1. Classical School
- maintained the doctrine of psychological hedonism and that people had free will
2. Neo-Classical School
- maintained that while the Classical Doctrine was correct in general, it should be modified in
certain details
- children and lunatics cannot calculate pleasures and pain so they should not be regarded as
criminals or be punished.
3. Positive School
- denied individual responsibility since there are internal and external factors that may be
outside the control of an individual

Early Prisons
• Mamertine Prison – early place of confinement in Rome in 64 BC using primitive dungeons built
under the main sewer.
• Sanctuary – an asylum that placed the wrong doer in seclusion of arrest in cities followed by Christian
Church.

Early Workhouses
• Bridewell - a workhouse for vagabonds, idlers and rogues.
- vagrants and prostitutes were given works while serving their sentence
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Early Cellular Prison
• Maison de Force – a Belgian workhouse for beggars and miscreants, designed to make a profit by
an enforced pattern of hard work with both discipline and silence.
Jean Jacques Philippe Villain - pioneered classification to separate women and children from
hardened criminals
• Hospice of San Michele – a correction facility designed for incorrigible boys and youth, and included
silence, large work areas, and separate sleeping cells.
• Wallnut Street Jail – a detention jail in Philadelphia created by the Quakers and converted into a state
prison and became the first American Penitentiary.

Auburn and Pennsylvania Prison System

1. Auburn Prison System – established in 1819
- main feature of this system is the confinement of the prisoners in single cells at night and
congregate work in shops during the day
2. Pennsylvania Prison System – established in 1829
- a prison system requires solitary confinement of the prisoners in their own cells day and night,
where they lived, slept, received religious instructions and read the Bible, and given a work.

Age of Enlightenment and Reforms

- a philosophic movement of the 18th century marked by rejections of traditional, social, religious,
and political ideas and an emphasis on rationalism.

Important Personalities
• Charles Montesquieu – believe that harsh punishment would undermine morality and that appealing
to moral sentiments as a better means of preventing crime.
• Voltaire – believes that fear of shame is a deterrent to crime.
• Jeremy Bentham – argued that the crime rate would go down if the amount of punishment were
carefully calibrated to deter potential offenders and maximize pleasures.
Panopticon Prison - consisted with a large, cast iron and glass containing multi- tiered cells
around the perimeter with an observation tower that has a special shutter to prevent the
prisoners from seeing the guards
• John Howard – an English high sheriff who was so appalled by jail conditions that he undertook a
crusade to improve places of detention
- prisoners must be segregated according to sex, age, and gravity of their offense
• Manuel Montesimos – the Director of Prisons at Valencia, Spain who divided prisoners into
companies and appointed prisoners as petty officers in charge
- allowed the reduction of inmates’ sentence by 1/3 for good behavior.
• Domets of France – established an agricultural colony for delinquent boys in 1839, providing house
fathers as in charge of these boys.
• Alexander Macanochie – superintendent of the Penal Colony at Norfolk Island in Australia
- introduced the ‘’Mark System’’ wherein a prisoner, was required to earned a number of marks
based on proper department to entitled him to a ticket of leave similar to parole.
• Sir Walter Crofton – Director of the Irish Prisons in 1854 who introduced the Irish System which was
later on called the Progressive Stage System.
The Irish system 4 stages:
1. Solitary confinement of prisons for 9 months, receiving reduced diet and monotonous work,
gradually progressing to a better treatment towards the end pf the first stage;
2. Assignment to a public works in associating with other convicts;
3. Sending to place which was a sort a preparation for release where the prisoner worked
without custodial supervision. Exposing him to ordinary temptations of freedom;
4. Release of the prisoner of the supervision under conditions equivalent to parole.
• Zebulon R. Brockway - the superintendent of the Elmira Reformatory in New York who introduced a
new institutional program for boys, 16-30 years of age.
Note: Elmira Reformatory - forerunner of Modern Penology
Under this program:
• A new prisoner is classified as second grade
• Promoted to first grade after 6 months of good behavior
• Another 6 months of good behavior in the first grade qualified him for parole.
- if the prisoner commits misconduct, demoted to third grade requiring him to show
good behavior for 1 month before he could be re-classified to second grade

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 • Sir Evelyn Ruggle Brise – the Director of English Prisons who opened the Borstal Institution after
visiting Elmira Reformatory
Borstal Institution - system was based entirely on individualized treatment
Note: The best reform institutions for young offenders.

JAIL
Difference Between Prison and Jail
As to origin of the word:
• Prison - originated from the Greco-Romano word “Presidio” meaning “a military post or fortified
settlement”
• Jail - originated from the Spanish word “Caula or Jaula” which literally means “cage”

As to definition:
• Prison - an institution for the imprisonment of persons convicted of major or serious crimes - more
than 3 years penalty
• Jail - place of confinement for those who are awaiting for trial or are serving short sentences

As to who is confined inside the facility facility:

• Prison - convicted persons sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment of more than 3 years
• Jail - convicted persons sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment of not more than 3 years;
detainees

As to who administers:
• Prison - administered by a national government
• Jail - administered by a province, city and municipality

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology

- created on January 2, 1991 pursuant to Republic Act 6975
- exercises administrative and operational jurisdiction over all district, city and municipal jails
Note:
a. District Jail – found in large cities or a group of clustered municipalities and headed by a district
warden
b. City and Municipal Jails - headed by a city or municipal warden

Objectives of BJMP
a. To improve the living conditions of offenders in accordance with the accepted standards set by the
United Nations
b. To enhance the safekeeping, rehabilitation and development of offenders in preparation for their
eventual reintegration into the mainstream of society upon their release
c. To professionalize jail services.

Core Values
a. Commitment - strong sense of dedication to the ideals of the organization and to the public that it
serves
b. Respect for Human Rights - to promote and protect the rights of our fellow human beings
c. Efficiency/Competence - mastery of important skills for delivery of quality services
d. Cooperation - willingness to share efforts in implementing plans and achieving goals
e. Teamwork - the combined effective action of all personnel

Principles
a. Humane treatment of inmates
b. Observance of professionalism in the performance of duties
c. Multi-sectoral approach in the safekeeping and development of inmates can be strengthened
through active partnership with other members of the criminal justice system and global advocates
of corrections

Definition of Terms:
• Commitment Order - a written order of the court, or any other agency authorized by law to issue,
entrusting an inmate to a jail for the purpose of safekeeping during the pendency of his/her case.

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 • Mittimus Order - a warrant issued by a court bearing its seal and the signature of the judge, directing
the jail or prison authorities to receive inmates for the service of sentence.
• Carpeta - otherwise known as “inmate record or jacket”
- contains the personal and criminal records of inmates, documents related to his/her
incarceration such as but not limited to
a. commitment order
b. Subpoenas
c. personal identification
d. orders from the court
e. all other papers necessarily connected with the detention of an inmate.
• Commitment - means entrusting for the confinement of an inmate to a jail by a competent court or
authority, for the purposes of safekeeping during the pendency of his/her case.

Entities authorized to commit a person to jail

a. Supreme Court
b. Court of Appeals
c. Sandiganbayan
d. Regional Trial Court
e. Metropolitan/Municipal Trial Court
f. Municipal Circuit Trial Court
g. Congress of the Philippines

Categories of Inmates
a. Prisoner - PDL who is convicted by final judgment
b. Detainee - PDL who is undergoing investigation/trial or awaiting final judgment.

Classification
- refers to assigning or to grouping of inmates according to their respective penalty, gender, age,
nationality, health, criminal records, etc.

Classification of Detainees
a. Undergoing investigation
b. Awaiting or undergoing trial
c. Awaiting final judgment

Classification of Prisoners
a. Insular Prisoner - one who is sentenced to a prison term of 3 years and 1 day to reclusion perpetua
or life imprisonment
b. Provincial Prisoner - one who is sentenced to a prison term of 6) months and 1 day to 3 years
c. City Prisoner - one who is sentenced to a prison term of 1 day to 3 years
d. Municipal Prisoner - one who is sentenced to a prison term of 1 day to 6 months.

Inmates Security Classifications

a. High Profile Inmate
- those who require increased security based on intense media coverage or public concern as
a result of their offense such
Example:
a. Those involved in a highly controversial or sensationalized crime
b. Those who became prominent for being a politician, government official, multi-million
entrepreneur, religious or cause-oriented group leader and movie or television
personality.
b. High Risk Inmate
- those who are considered highly dangerous and who require a greater degree of security,
control and supervision because of their deemed capability of escape, of being rescued, and
their ability to launch or spearhead acts of violence inside the jail
Including:
1. those charged with heinous crimes like murder, kidnapping for ransom, economic
sabotage, syndicated or organized crimes, etc.
2. PDLs with military or police trainings or those whose life is in danger or under imminent
threat.

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 c. High Value Target (HVT)
- either a resource or a person
Who may be:
a. an enemy combatant, high ranking official or a civilian in danger of capture or death
b. typically, in possession of critical intelligence, data, or authority
c. marked as an objective for a mission and which a commander requires for the
successful completion of the same.
d. Security Threat Group
- any formal or informal ongoing inmates’ group, gang, organization or association consisting
of three or more members falling into one of the following basic categories
• street gangs, prison gangs, outlaw gangs, traditional organized crime
• aboriginal gangs, subversive groups, terrorist organizations.
e. Subversive Group
- a group of persons that adopts or advocates subversive principles or policies tending to
overthrow or undermine an established government
f. Terrorist Group
- a group of persons that commits any of the following:
• piracy and mutiny, rebellion or insurrection, coup d’état, murder, kidnapping and
serious illegal detention, crimes involving destruction, arson
• hijacking, violation of laws on toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear waste
control, violations of atomic energy regulations, anti-piracy and antihighway robbery,
unlawful possession, manufacture of firearms, ammunitions or explosives.
g. Violent Extremist Offender (VEO)
- a person whose political or religious ideologies are considered far outside the mainstream
attitudes of the society
- or those who violates common moral standards and who has adopted an increasingly
extreme ideals and aspirations resorting to the employment of violence in the furtherance of
his/her beliefs
h. Medium Risk Inmates
- those who represent a moderate risk to the public and staff.
- require greater security, control and supervision as they might escape from and might
commit violence inside the jail.
i. Minimum Risk Inmates
- those who have lesser tendencies to commit offenses and generally pose the least risk to
public safety
- may be first time offenders and are charged with light offenses.

Organization and Key positions of the BJMP

- headed by a Chief (tour of duty not to exceed 4 years)
- assisted by 2 deputy chiefs
a. for administration
b. for operation

Rank Classification of the BJMP:

Rank Position/Title Appointing Authority
Director Chief of the BJMP President
C/ Supt. Deputy C/BJMP President
Sn. Supt. Asst. Regional Dir. Secretary of DILG
Supt. Asst. Regional Dir. Chief of the Jail Bureau
Chief Insp. Warden Chief of the Jail Bureau
Sn. Insp. Warden Chief of the Jail Bureau
Inspector Warden Chief of the Jail Bureau
SJO 4 to JO1 Jail Guards Chief of the BJMP/RD

Office of the Warden

- responsible for direction, coordination and control of the personnel, the inmates and the programs
of the institutions.
a. Intelligence and Investigation Team – collates and submits intelligence information to the
warden on the matters pertaining to jail conditions
b. Jail Inspectorate Section – inspect the jail facilities, the personnel and prisoners/detained and
submits reports of deficiencies noted
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 c. Public Relations Office – task with the maintenance of good public relations to obtain the
necessary and adequate support of the public

Office of the Assistant Warden

- undertakes the development of a systematic process of treatment of PDLs
- determines the degree of custody for PDLs

Jail Positions and Corresponding Ranks

Position Rank (under RA 9263)
Municipal Jail Warden Senior Jail Inspector
City Jail Warden Chief Jail Inspector
District Jail Warden Jail Superintendent
Provincial Jail Administration Jail Superintendent
Asst. Regional Director for Administration Jail Superintendent
Asst. Regional Director for Operation Jail Superintendent
Regional Chief of Directorial Staff Jail Superintendent
Regional Director of JMP At least Jail Superintendent
Director if the Directorate of National Headquarters
At least Jail Superintendent
Office
Deputy Chief for Administration of the Jail Bureau Chief Jail Superintendent
Deputy Chief for Operation of the Jail Bureau Chief Jail Superintendent
Chief of the Directorial Staff of the Jail Bureau Chief Jail Superintendent
Chief of the Jail Bureau Jail Director

Administrative Group
• Personnel Management Branch – tasked for the assignment of personnel, procedures pf selection,
preparation of personnel reports and individual record files
• Records and Statistics Branch – keeps and maintain booking sheets and arrest reports, keep and
orderly record of fingerprints and photographs, prepare and presents statistical date of inmates.
• Property and Supply Branch – takes charge of the safekeeping of equipment and supplies and
materials needed for the operation of the jail.
• Budget and Finance Branch – takes charge of all financial matter such as budgeting, financing,
accounting and auditing
• Mess Service Branch – prepares the daily menu, prepares and cook the food and serve it to the
inmates
• General Services Branch – maintains and repairs of jail facilities and equipment
• Mittimus Computing Branch – receives court decisions and computes the date of the full completion
of the service sentence of inmates.

Reception Procedures
1. Gater
- checks the credentials of the person bringing the inmate to determine his identity and
authority
- reviews the completeness of documents before the the committing officer is allowed to enter
the facility.
a. Commitment Order
b. Medical Certificate – taken within 24 hours prior to admission
c. Complaint/Information
d. Police Booking Sheet
e. Certificate of Detention from PNP and/or NBI.
- subject the person to be committed and hisescorts for search and inspection
2. Records Unit
- examines the completeness and authenticity of the requirements for Commitment
3. Health Unit
- checks the authenticity of the entries in the medical certificate
- conducts thorough physical examination of the inmate to determine his or her true physical
condition

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 4. Records Unit
- receives the inmate and the documents from the committing officer
- starts the booking procedures
- store all documents in the Inmate’s Carpeta.
5. Property Custodian
- checks the inmate’s belongings for presence of contraband
- takes all cash and other personal properties from the inmate, lists them down on a receipt
form with duplicate, duly signed by him and countersigned by the inmate
- keeps all cash and other valuables of the inmate in a safety vault
6. Desk Officer
- books the newly committed inmate in the jail blotter
- assigns the inmate to a reception area for orientation on jail rules and regulation
7. Assistant Warden or Officer of the Day
- orients the newly committed inmates on jail rules and regulations using the Inmate’s
Orientation Sheet
8. Jail Warden
- coordinates with concerned agencies regarding the case of inmate for speedy disposition
and to furnish them with copies of the available needed documents.
- see to it that all concerned agencies and persons will be informed of the commitment of the
inmate in his jail by submitting a written report

Classification Board
- tasked to conduct background investigation of PDLs to determine the cell assignment, the
appropriate rehabilitative program, the type of supervision and degree of custody and restrictions
applicable to the PDLs
- Assistant Warden as the Chairperson

Inmate Classification and Counseling Unit (ICCU)

- this is where the PDL shall stay for a minimum period of 30 days but not exceeding 60 days
- where the newly committed inmate will undergo assessment by the different health professionals
a. Medical Examination
b. Dental Examination
c. Psychological Examination
d. Social Case Study
e. Risk Assessment
f. Psychiatric Evaluation
‘
Disciplinary board
- hears disciplinary cases involving any PDL who violates jail rules and regulations
- tasked to investigate the facts of an alleged misconduct
- Assistant Warden as the Chairperson
- shall hear and decide within 48 hours from the date of receipt of the case

Authorized Disciplinary Actions

For Detainees:
a. Admonition or verbal reprimand
b. Restitution or reparation
c. Temporary or permanent cancellation of all or some recreational privileges
d. Reduction of visiting time
e. Close confinement in a cell for a period not exceeding 7 days (imposed only in the case of an
incorrigible inmate, and when other disciplinary measures had been proven ineffective)
f. Transfer to another BJMP jail in the area

For Prisoners:
a. Admonition or verbal reprimand
b. Restitution or reparation
c. Additional job functions/community service within the jail premises
d. Temporary or permanent cancellation of some or all recreational privileges
e. Reduction of visiting time
f. Close confinement in a cell for a period not exceeding 7 days
g. Transfer to another BJMP jail in the area
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 h. Suspension of visiting privileges for a period not exceeding 1 month
i. Permanent cancellation of visiting privileges

Punishable Acts
Minor Offenses:
a. Selling or bartering with fellow PDL items not classified as contraband
b. Rendering personal service to fellow PDLs
c. Untidy or dirty personal appearance
d. Littering or failing to maintain cleanliness and orderliness in his/her quarters and/or surroundings
e. Making frivolous or groundless complaints
f. Taking the cudgels for or reporting complaints on behalf of other inmates
g. Reporting late for inmate formation and inmate headcount without justifiable reasons
h. Willful waste of food.
Less Grave Offenses:
a. Failure to report for work detail without sufficient justification
b. Failure to render assistance to an injured personnel or inmate
c. Failure to assist in putting out fires inside the jail
d. Behaving improperly or acting boisterously during religious, social and other group functions
e. Swearing, cursing or using profane or defamatory language directed at other persons
f. Malingering or pretending to be sick to skip work assignment
g. Spreading rumors or malicious intrigues to besmirch the honor of any person, particularly BJMP
personnel
h. Failure to stand at attention and give due respect when confronted by or reporting to any BJMP
personnel
i. Forcing fellow inmates to render personal service to him/her and/or to others
j. Exchanging uniforms or wearing clothes other than those issued to him/her for the purpose of
circumventing jail rules
k. Loitering or being in an unauthorized place
l. Using the telephone without authority from the desk officer/warden
m. Writing, defacing, or drawing on walls, floors or any furniture or equipment
n. Withholding information, which may be inimical or prejudicial to the jail administration
o. Possession of lewd or pornographic literature and/or photographs
p. Absence from cell, brigade, place of work during headcount, or at any time without justifiable reason
q. Failure to turn over any implement/article/s issued after work detail.
Grave Offenses:
a. Making untruthful statements or lies in any official communication, transaction, or investigation
b. Keeping or concealing keys or locks of places in the jail which are off-limits to inmates
c. Giving gifts, selling, or bartering items with jail personnel
d. Keeping in his/her possession money, jewelry, cellular phones or other communication devices and
other items classified as contraband under the rules
e. Tattooing others or allowing him/her to be tattooed on any part of the body, or keeping any
paraphernalia to be used in tattooing
f. Forcibly taking or extorting money from fellow inmates and visitors
g. Punishing or inflicting injury or any harm upon himself/herself or other inmates
h. Receiving, keeping, taking or drinking liquor and prohibited drugs
i. Making, improvising or keeping any kind of deadly weapon
j. Concealing or withholding information on plans of attempted escapes
k. Unruly conduct and flagrant disregard for discipline and instructions
l. Escaping, attempting or planning to escape from the institution or from any guard
m. Helping, aiding or abetting others to escape
n. Fighting, causing any disturbance or participating therein and/or agitating to cause such disturbance
or riot
o. Indecent, immoral or lascivious acts by himself/herself or others and/or allowing himself/herself to
be the subject of such indecent, immoral or lascivious acts
p. Willful disobedience to a lawful order issued by any BJMP personnel
q. Assaulting any BJMP personnel
r. Damaging any government property or equipment
s. Participating in kangaroo court, an unauthorized or irregular court conducted with disregard for or
perversion of legal procedures as a mock court by the inmates in a jail/prison
t. Affiliating with any gang or faction whose main purpose is to foment regionalism or to segregate
themselves from others
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 u. Failing to inform the authorities concerned when afflicted with any communicable disease, such as
tuberculosis, sexually-transmitted diseases, etc.
v. Engaging in gambling or any game of chance
w. Committing any act which violates any law or ordinance, in which case, he/she shall be prosecuted
criminally in accordance with law
x. Committing any act prejudicial to good order and discipline.

Treatment of Inmates with Special Needs

“As a general rule, inmates with special needs should not be held in jails with other “regular” inmates”
• Female
- dorm is completely separated from the male dorm
- female personnel shall keep the keys of the female dorms
- assign only work suitable to their age and physical condition
- no male inmate shall be allowed to enter the female dorm
- searches shall be performed by a female personnel
• Drug Users/Dependents/Alcoholics
- segregated from other PDLs, especially during withdrawal period
- must be referred to the jail psychiatrist, physician or nurse for evaluation and management
- maintain close supervision to prevent attempts to commit suicide or self-mutilation
- conduct regular search of the dorm to prevent the smuggling of narcotics, liquors and other
dangerous drugs.
• Mentally-ill
- must be referred to the jail psychiatrist for evaluation and treatment
- transferred to mental institutions for proper psychiatric treatment upon the issuance of a
court order
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT)
- segregate to prevent their maltreatment and abuse by other inmates and to prevent them
from maltreating and abusing other inmates.
• Sex Offenders
- segregated to prevent them from taking advantage of other inmates
• Suicidal Inmates
- must be referred to the jail psychiatrist for evaluation and management
- maintain close supervision over suicidal inmates at all times
- subject them to frequent strip/frisk searches, and greyhound operation for tools/materials
that can be used for suicide
• Sex Deviates (homosexuals)
- segregated immediately to prevent them from influencing other inmates or being maltreated
or abused by other inmates
• Escape-Prone Inmates
- held in the most secure quarters, preferably in single-inmate cells, to minimize contact with
one another
- closely watch or observe conducts or behavior during and after visiting hours
- frequently strip searched quarters frequently inspected
- restrict telephone call
• Inmates with Disability
- segregated and closely supervised to protect from maltreatment and any form of abuse by
other inmates, personnel and visitors
- develop individual case management and special activities
• Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL)
- pursuant to the RA 9344, CICL shall not be confined in jails
• Senior Citizen Inmates
- segregated and close supervised to protect them from maltreatment and other forms of
abuse by other inmates
- be made to do tasks deemed fit and appropriate, their age, capability, and physical condition
• Infirm Inmates
- segregated to prevent the spread of said contagious diseases
- closely monitored and provide with appropriate medication and utmost care

Custody, Security and Control

• Thoroughly search newly admitted PDL for weapons and other contraband upon arrival
• Thoroughly search all inmates whenever they enter or leave the security areas
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 • Conduct surprise searches on inmates and inspection of their quarters and other areas accessible to
inmates at least once a week to detect and flush out contraband
• Maintain a key control center for storing keys that is inaccessible to inmates and unauthorized
persons - one (1) full set of duplicate keys
• Continuous inspection and maintenance of all locks.
• Maintain strict control of firearms
• All firearms, ammunition, chemical agents, related security and emergency equipment must be
inventoried and tested at least quarterly
• All tools, toxic, corrosive and flammable substances and other potentially dangerous supplies and
equipment shall be stored in a locked area which is secure and located outside the inmate’s area.
• Conduct regular count of inmates at least 5 to 6 times within a 24-hour period
• Prohibit inmate’s visitor to stay inside jail premises beyond authorized visiting period regardless of
any reasons
• Inmates shall be supervised at all times whenever they are outside their cells
• Carefully select the inmates to be utilized as jail aide and maintain rigid control over their activities.
• Never allow jail personnel to open inmate’s quarters alone – 1 guard
• Security procedures during meal service
- a jail officer should not enter the PDLs’ quarters to distribute food unless another officer is
available to handle the keys and control the entrance door
• Dining room security
- individual mess utensils of inmates shall be made of plastic
- PDLs should march in columns of two’s along designated routes under the supervision of jail
personnel
- all utensils used should be collected and account for all forks, spoons and other kitchen
utensils after every meal
• Mail services and censorship
- all outgoing and incoming mail matters are passed through a designated Censor Officer to
intercept any contraband or illegal articles affecting the security of the jail
• Mess utensils of inmates shall be made of plastic - march in columns of two’s (2)

Movement/Transfer of Inmates
- prisoners or detainees may be moved or transferred safely and humanely by trained personnel who
shall adopt the necessary level of security, supervision, and control
When will a PDL be brought out of jail?
1. To appear, as witness before any court of justice or prosecutor’s office during preliminary
investigation, arraignment or hearing of a criminal case
2. To appear as witness in any investigation or formal inquiry being conducted by a government agency
3. To view the remains of a deceased relative within the second degree of affinity or consanguinity
4. To undergo medical examination or treatment in a hospital or clinic
Note:
a. PDL may be transferred to another institution only upon specific order of the court having
jurisdiction over him
b. where hospitalization is necessary: notify the regional director and the court concerned within 6
hours after the inmate is brought to the hospital or within 6 hours from the first hour of the
following day

PDL who wish to view the remains of a deceased relative:

- relative must be within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity
- submit a written request to the warden at least 3 days before the date of viewing
- allowed to stay not more than 3 hours in the place where the remains of the deceased relative lie in
state
Warden may oppose the request if:
1. The deceased relative is lying-in-state in a place beyond 30radius from the jail or, in any case, where
the inmate cannot return to said place during daylight hours
2. The inmate has a record of escape or attempted escape
3. The inmate has 2 or more pending criminal cases or is a material witness in a pending criminal case
4. The inmate is classified as high risk, high profile, high value or violent extremist offender
5. The inmate cannot be assured of his safety and security, or his escape is highly possible
6. There is an intelligence report that the inmate will escape or will be rescued

Rules to be Followed When Transporting Inmates

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 a. Shall only be made during daytime
b. Maximum security measure shall be observed at all times in providing escort to high risk, high profile
inmates and VEO’s - ratio of 1 is to 1 plus 1 escort supervisor
c. Long distance transport of 1 or more PDL shall be escorted by a minimum of 3 escort personnel and
a back-up vehicle
d. Do not use rented vehicles
e. Proper placement of handcuff: right to right or left to left

Quick Response Team (QRT)

- created to respond immediately and efficiently and to contain, control, and solve in the shortest
possible time any form of jail incidents/disturbance while waiting for the arrival of reinforcement from
the STAR team and friendly forces
- acts as first responder to any jail incidents
Special Tactics and Response (Star) Team
- an elite tactical unit trained to perform high-risk operations that falls outside the operational abilities
of the regular BJMP personnel and is equipped with specialized skills and sophisticated firearms and
equipment
- shall serve as the last resort in addressing crisis in jail
National Inmates’ Monitoring System (NIMS)
- a dynamic stand-alone client application software is used in BJMP Jails nationwide in automating
the inmates’ records

Use of Force Continuum

- an escalating level of force commencing from no force, to non-deadly force and ultimately, to deadly
force
• No Force Continuum - no force is used (mere presence of the jail officers and verbalization)
• Non-deadly Force Continuum - use of physical force towards an inmate with any device other
than deadly force or firearm designed to temporarily incapacitate an inmate
a. Physical contact - includes restraining holds, come along holds, pain compliance holds
and blows with feet and fists
b. Chemical/electrical and inflammatory agents (CEI) - Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) pepper
spray, pepper gun, tear gas, aerosol, mace, stun gun, taser etc
c. Impact weapons - probatons and nightsticks
• Deadly Force – a force that would create a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily
harm such as firearm
- the last resort in the use of force continuum
• Maximum Tolerance - highest degree of restraint that jail personnel shall observe in dealing
with hostile inmate/s

Important Definition of Terms

Contraband - any article, item, or thing prohibited by law and/or forbidden by jail rules that would pose as
security hazards or endanger the lives of inmates.
• Illegal contraband - unlawful in itself and not because of some extraneous circumstance
- dangerous drugs, weapons, potential weapons, explosives
• Merely prohibited and nuisance contraband - may not be classified as illegal under the law but are
forbidden by jail rules
- cellphone, money, jewelry, appliances and gadgets, excessive wearing apparels intoxicating
liquors, cigarettes, pornographic materials, gambling paraphernalia
Types of Body Searches:
a. Pat/Frisk Search - officer pats or squeezes the subject’s clothing to attempt to detect
contraband
b. Rub Search - officer rubs and pats the subject’s body over the clothing, but in a more
intense and thorough manner (genital, buttocks, and breast)
c. Strip Search - involves the visual inspection of disrobed or partially disrobed subject.
d. Visual Body Cavity Search - involves the inspection of the anus and/or vaginal area,
generally requiring the subject to bend over and spread the cheeks of the buttocks; to
squat and/or otherwise expose body cavity orifices.
• Hostile Act - an attack or other use of force by PDLs against other PDLs, visitors, jail personnel, jail
properties and facilities, or jail security
• Assault - a situation where violence, threat and intimidation by inmates is directed against fellow
inmate, civilian or any jail personnel.
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 • Noise Barrage - a situation where inmates create loud, unpleasant sounds in order to express their
demands and grievances over issues usually related to the management of jail.
• Riot - a large scale disorganized brawl or combat between inmates usually due to long standing
conflict.
• Hostage - a person who is held by another inmate or inmates as a guarantee that certain actions or
promises will or will not be carried out.
• Lockdown - a situation where the inmates, whether in whole or in part, control the jail facility

BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS
Bureau of Corrections
Reorganization Act 1407 (November 1, 1905)
- created the Bureau of Prisons
Executive Order 292 or the RAC of 1987 (Book IV, Title III, Chapter 8, Sec. 26)
- renamed into Bureau of Corrections which shall have its principal task to rehabilitate prisoner

7 Prison and Penal Farms

1. New Bilibid Prison (January 22, 1941)
Formerly Old Bilibid Prison – found in Oroquieta Street Manila
2 sattelites:
a. Camp Bukang Liwayway – minimum-security
b. Camp Sampaguita – medium-security, RDC and Youth Rehabilitation Center
- Muntinlupa, Rizal
- 552 hectares
2. San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (August 21, 1870)
- Zamboanga
- 1524.6 hectares
- built during the tenure of Governor General Ramon Blanco, a Spanish captain in the royal
army
- for persons convicted of political crimes
3. Iwahig Penal Colony (November 16, 1904)
- Puerto Princesa, Palawan
- 36,000 hectares
- formerly known as Luhit Penal Settlement
- made as depository for the prisoners who could not be accommodated at the Bilibid Prison
- best open institution in the world
4. Correctional Institution for Women (Nov. 27, 1929)
- Mandaluyong Rizal
- 18 hectares
- established under Republic Act No. 3579
- the first and only correctional institution for women offenders
5. Davao Penal Colony (January 21, 1932)
- Davao
- 18, 000 hectares
- established under Act No. 3732
- the first penal settlement founded and organized under Filipino administration
3 sub-colonies
1. Panabo Sub-colony
2. Kapalong Sub-colony
3. Abaca Decorticating Plant
Note: Abaca is the main industry of the colony
6. Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (Sept. 27, 1954)
- Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro
- 16, 000 hectares
- established under Proclamation No. 72
- where prisoners from NBP are brought for decongestion purposes
7. Leyte Regional Prison (January 16, 1973)
- Abuyog, Southern Leyte
- established under Proclamation No. 1101
- has an inmate capacity of 500

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Non-Operational National Prisons
• Fort Bonifacio Prison
- formerly known as Fort William McKinley
- a military reservation located in Makati
- incorrigibles were mixed with political prisoners (those convicted of rebellion) until it was
converted into a prison exclusively for political offenders.
- in the late 1980’s, the facility was vacated by the Bureau of Prisons.
• Corregidor Prison Stockade
- established in 1908 during the American regime
- prisoners were transferred from the Old Bilibid Prison to Corregidor
- this island prison was never reopened.
• Bontoc Prison
- established under Act No. 1876
- found in Bontoc, Mountain Province
- built for the prisoners of the province and insular prisoners who were members of the non-
Christian tribes of Mountain Province and Nueva Viscaya
- could be reached only through narrow, poorly developed mountain roads
- enormous expenses were incurred in transporting personnel, equipment and supplies so the
facility was not used anymore for correction

Classification of PDL as to security risk

• Maximum Security – include highly dangerous or high security risk PDL and shall require a high
degree of control and supervision.
Under this category are:
1. Those sentenced to death
2. Those whose minimum sentence is 20 years imprisonment
3. Remand PDL or detainees whose sentence is 20 years and above and those whose sentence
are under review by the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals
4. Those with pending case
5. Recidivist, habitual delinquents and escapee
6. Those confined at the ARPDMD/RDC
7. Those under disciplinary punishment or safekeeping
8. Those who are criminally insane or those with severe personality or emotional disorders that
make them dangerous to fellow PDL or the prison staff.
• Medium Security – include those who cannot be trusted in less-secured areas and those whose
conduct or behaving require minimum supervision.
Under this category are:
1. Those whose minimum sentence is less than 20 years imprisonment
2. Remanded PDL or detainees whose sentence are below 20 years
3. Those who are 18 years of age and below, regardless of the case and sentence
4. Those who have 2 or more records of escapes who have served 8 years since they were
recommitted; and those with 1 record of escape who have served 5 years
5. First offenders sentenced to life imprisonment who have served 5 years in a maximum-
security prison or less, upon recommendation of the Superintendent.
- those who were detained in a city and/or provincial jail shall not be entitled to the said
classification
• Minimum Security – include those who can be reasonably trusted to serve their sentence under less
restricted conditions.
Under this category are:
1. with severe physical handicap as certified by the Chief Medical Officer of the prison
2. 65 years old and above, without pending case and whose convictions are not on appeal
3. have served 1/2 of their minimum sentence or 1/3 of their maximum sentence, excluding
Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA)
4. have only 6 months more to serve before the expiration of their maximum sentence.

Color of Uniform as to security classification

a. Maximum security — tangerine
b. Medium security — blue
c. Minimum security — brown
d. Detainee — gray

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Classification of inmates as to entitlement to privileges
a. Detainee
b. Third Class inmate – previously committed for 3 or more times as a sentenced inmate
c. Second Class inmate — a newly arrived inmate; an inmate demoted from first class; or one promoted
from the third class
d. First Class inmate — one whose known character and credit for work while in detention earned
assignment to this class upon commencement of sentence; or one who has been promoted from
the second class
e. Colonist - at least a first class inmate; has served 1/5 of the maximum term of his prison sentence

Privileges of a Colonist
a. credit of an additional GCTA of 5 days for each calendar month aside from the regular GCTA
b. automatic reduction of the life sentence to 30 years
c. to have his wife and children, or the woman he desires to marry, live with him in the prison and penal
farm
d. issuance of a reasonable amount of clothing and ordinarily household supplies in addition to free
subsistence
e. to wear civilian clothes on such special occasions

Republic Act No. 10575

- The Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013
- shall be in charge of safekeeping and instituting reformation programs to national inmates
sentenced to more than 3 years through progressive, effective, and efficient administration

Definition of Terms:
• Inmate – person confined in jails/prisons to serve his sentence or for safekeeping who is officially
called Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL)
• Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL) – a detainee, inmate, or prisoner, or other person under
confinement or custody; a new and neutral phrase under Article 10, of International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),
• National Inmate – refers to an inmate sentenced by a court to serve a term of imprisonment for more
than 3 years or to a fine of more than 1000 pesos
- those sentenced for violation of customs law or violation of immigration and election laws
- those serving two or more prison sentences in the aggregate exceeding the period of 3 years
• Safekeeping – the custodial mandate of the BuCor’s present corrections system
- the act that ensures the public that national inmates are provided with their basic needs
Note: “accord the dignity of man” - core objective of safekeeping
Safekeeping includes:
a. Decent and adequate provision of basic necessities such as shelters/quarters, food, water,
clothing, medicine.
b. Proper observance of prescribed privileges such as regulated communication and
visitation.
c. Efficient processing of necessary documentary requirements and records for their timely
release.
• Security - the complementary component of Safekeeping in custodial
- ensures that inmates are completely incapacitated from further committing criminal acts, and
have been totally cut off from their criminal networks while serving sentence inside the
premises of the national penitentiary
- includes protection against illegal organized armed groups which have the capacity of
launching an attack on any prison camp of the national penitentiary to rescue their convicted
comrade or to forcibly amass firearms issued to corrections officers.
• Reformation
- acts which ensure the public that released national inmates are no longer harmful to the
community by becoming reformed individuals prepared to live a normal and productive life
upon reintegration to the mainstream society

Reformation of National Inmates

• Moral and Spiritual Program
- the moral and spiritual values-formation of inmates; include the practice of one’s religion and
beliefs
- institutionalized by the Directorate for Moral and Spiritual Welfare (DMSW)
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 • Education and Training Program
- the administration of formal and non-formal education, and skills development of inmates
- institutionalized by the Directorate for Education and Training (DET)
• Work and Livelihood Program
- the administration of skills development programs on work and livelihood to achieve self-
sufficiency of inmates in the prison community and for income generation of the agency
- institutionalized by the Directorate for Work and Livelihood (DWL)
• Sports and Recreation Program
- the administration of physical and recreational engagement to achieve mental alertness and
physical agility in the spirit of sportsmanship
- institutionalized by the Directorate for Sports and Recreation (DSR)
• Health and Welfare Program
- the administration of proper nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, cleanliness and promotion of
good health to inmates
- includes appropriate provision of medical care or hospitalization of the sick, mentally
impaired, old aged, and disabled inmates
- institutionalized by the Directorate for Health and Welfare Services (DHWS)
• Behavior Modification Program
- the administration of programs for the character formation of an inmate necessary for
effective interpersonal relationship in the prison community
- includes Therapeutic Community
- institutionalized by the Directorate for Behavior Modification (DBM)

Who shall administratively supervise the BuCor?

Department of Justice (DOJ)
- shall maintain a relationship of administrative supervision

Organization and Key Positions of BuCor

POSITION RANK
Director General of Corrections Undersecretary
Deputy Director General of Corrections Assistant Secretary
Deputy Directors:
1. Administration
2. Security and Operations
3. Reformation
Corrections Chief Superintendent Chief Superintendent
Corrections Senior Superintendent Senior Superintendent
Corrections Superintendent Superintendent

Personnel-to Inmate Ratio

• Custodial - 1:7
• Reformation - 1:24
• Moral and Spiritual - 1:240
• Education and Training - 1:120
• Work and Livelihood - 1:180
• Sports and Recreation - 1:225
• Health and Welfare - 1:80
• Behavior Modification - 1:150
• Administrative - 1:14.58
• Engineering - 1:58.33
• Directorate for Reception and Diagnostics
and Directorate for External Relations - 1:120
• Directorate for Inmate Documents
and Records - 1:116.7

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Custodial Officers
• Corrections Deputy Director • Corrections Senior Officer III
• Corrections Chief Superintendent • Corrections Senior Officer II
• Corrections Senior Superintendent • Corrections Senior Officer I
• Corrections Superintendent • Corrections Officer III
• Corrections Chief Inspector • Corrections Officer II
• Corrections Senior Inspector • Corrections Officer I
• Corrections Inspector
• Corrections Senior Officer IV

BuCor Admission Process

• Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC)
- shall receive, study and classify inmates and detainees committed to the Bureau
- upon admission in the Reception and Diagnostic Center, an inmate shall be placed in
quarantine for at least 5 days during which he shall be —
a. given a physical examination
b. oriented with prison rules
c. interviewed by a counselor, social worker or other program staff-officers
• Assignment of inmate
- after the quarantine period, the inmate shall remain in the RDC for a period not exceeding
55 days
- he shall undergo psychiatric, psychological, sociological, vocational, educational and
religious and other examinations
- the results shall be the basis for the inmate's individualized treatment program
- then he shall be assigned to a prison facility

Important regulations in Bucor facilities:

- PDL shall be served meals 3 times a day
- a PDL may not wear jewelry items except an inexpensive watch
- a PDL may be required to work at least 8 hours a day
- a PDL over 60 years of age may be excused from mandatory labor
- a PDL may receive or send money
- a PDL who demonstrates good behavior shall earn 1 telephone call every 90 days for not exceeding
5 min.
- an infant born while the mother is serving sentence in the CIW may be allowed to stay with the
mother for a period not exceeding 1 year

Release of PDL
An inmate may be released from prison:
a. upon the expiration of his sentence
b. by order of the Court or of competent authority
c. after being granted parole, pardon or amnesty

Who may authorize release?

a. the Supreme Court or lower courts, in cases of acquittal or grant of bail
b. the President of the Philippines, in cases of executive clemency or amnesty
c. the Board of Pardons and Parole, in parole cases
d. the Director, upon the expiration of the sentence of the inmate

Note:
- a PDL shall not be allowed to leave prison 60 days before and 30 days after an election
- a PDL shall be transferred to the Separation and Placement Center 30 days before his scheduled
date of release to prepare him for reentry into free society

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