Classification plays a key role in the rehabilitation of inmates.

Inmates are registered

and under go initial classification before they are assigned to an operating institution.
Offenders are classified under three (3) distinct orders: Maximum Security, Medium
Security and Minimum Security.
Purpose of security classification of offenders
1. To separate offenders whom by reason of their criminal record or derogatory
character, are likely to exercise a bad influence on other offenders.
2. To separate offenders whom by gravity of their offenses, have been
sentence to longer periods of imprisonment and therefore require more
secure facilities.
3. To divide and segregate the offenders into classes to facilitate their
rehabilitative treatment.
Maximum Security Offenders are those whose escape could be highly
dangerous to the public or to the security of the country.
1. Offenders whose maximum sentences are twenty (20) years or more.
2. Remand or detained offenders whose sentence is under review by the
Supreme Court.
3. Offenders who are criminally insane or have severe personality or emotional
disorder that makes him dangerous both to fellow offenders or prison
personnel.
Medium Security Offenders are those who cannot be trusted in open
conditions and pose less danger to society in the event of their escape.
1. Offenders whose minimum sentences are less than twenty (20) years.
2. For those who have two or more records of escape, they must serve eight
years at the maximum security, before being recommitted in the medium
security.
3. Youth offenders whose age is eighteen (18) years old or younger regardless
of the nature of the case and the sentence.
4. Life sentence offenders, if they have served ten (10) years of imprisonment,
excluding Good Conduct Time Allowance, in a maximum-security prison.
Minimum Security Offenders are those who can be reasonably trusted to
serve their sentence under open conditions.
1. Invalid offenders or those who have physical disabilities
2. Offenders who are over sixty-five (65) years of age.
3. Offenders who have one (1) more year to serve before the expiration of
their sentence.
4. Life termers who have served at least fifteen (15) years of their
imprisonment excluding Good Conduct Time Allowance.

Trustee an inmate of a jail who has been assigned to a status of trust

because he is considered by the jail or prison administrator to be sufficiently responsible
given wider range of work with less supervision than average prisoners. They are given
the status of trust because of their proven or trusted behavior demonstrated while
serving sentence. They are given a work assignment that would assist the custodial
force they are known as Bastoneros, giving security force in meal distribution,
transportation and other work.
The number of years wherein the convicted felon was detained will be
deducted to the number of years of imprisonment as sentence by the court.
RDC recommendations, however, are sometimes set aside for local security
considerations or simply on the basis of available space. Thus, prisoners are subjected
to a reclassification by the Reclassification Board of the operating institution, which runs
counter to the initial classification. This disrupts and often renders ineffective
rehabilitation program of inmates.
Youth offenders and prisoners aged eighteen (18) years and below, regardless
of sentence, are confined at the Youth Rehabilitation Center.
Prisoners certified as carries of inflections and highly communicable diseases,
and those who are physically and/or mentally unfit, as certified by the Chief Medical
Officer, are separated from healthy prisoners.
Before the inmates are reintegrated to society, they undergo pre-release
training and counseling. The pre-release classification is actually a continuation of the
reclassification process and is especially needed by prisoners who have been in prison
for five (5) years or more to help them adjust to their new environment.
TYPES OF PRISONERS IN JAIL
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

The Old and the Young

The sick and the well
The First offender or confirmed criminals
The alcoholic
The Drug addict
The sex offender
The vagrant, Hobo or tramp

TYPES OF UNUSUAL OFFENDERS AND HOW TO HANDLE THEM

a)
b)
c)
d)

Juvenile
Female
Drug addict
The alcoholic

e)
f)
g)
h)
i)

Mentally ill
Escape minded and/or escape prone
The suicide risk
The handicapped
Homosexual or sex deviates

TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES
1. Quay System
2. Insight therapy
3. Behavior treatment or modification
4. Group psychotherapy
5. Psychotherapy
6. Transactional analysis
7. Reality therapy
8. Psychodrama
9. Social group work
10. Guided group interaction
Correctional Services
Inmate Discipline
By policy, inmates committing offenses punishable by the Revised Penal Code
are criminally charged in the proper courts. Inmates violating prison rules and
regulations are charged administratively through the Board pf Discipline in each of the
seven (7) prisons.
The Board of Discipline
A disciplinary board shall be organized and maintained for the purpose o
helping disciplinary cases involving any prisoner who violates prison rules and
regulations. The board shall be composed of a chairman and six members which will be
chosen or appointed by the prison superintendent or warden as the case maybe
The board is tasked with the investigation of facts of the alleged misconduct of
the prisoner. All cases referred to shall be heard and decided within forty-eight (48)
hours from the date of receipt.
The board is authorized to impose any of the disciplinary punishment.
Depending on the gravity of the offense:
a. Reprimand
b. Temporary or permanent cancellation of some or all recreational
privileges;
c. Cancellation of visiting privileges;

d. Extra-fatigue duty;
e. Close confinement in a cell which will not exceed seven (7) days.
This punishment shall be imposed only in the cases of an incorrigible
prisoner, when other disciplinary measures hade been proven
ineffective;
f. Partial or full forfeiture of good conduct time allowance.
Custody, security and control of prisoner:
The rehabilitation program of an institution cannot be carried out effectively if
the prisoners create disturbance or escape. The custody and control of prisoners is the
most vital and important phase in the rehabilitation process, because without control of
prisoners no rehabilitation program can be carried out effectively by the prisoners
behavioral reformation. The rehabilitation program must also be carried out and meted
through the standard inmate and custodial force ratio which is 1 it to 6 if inside the
prison camp, 2 is to 12 if in open condition.
Factors considered very essential in custody, security and control of provisions
are:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.

Inspection of all security facilities;

Adequate system of classification of prisoners;
Counting of inmates at least four (4) times a day;
Control of firearms;
A plan of gas control in cases of riots and other disturbance;
Control of contrabands;
Control of keys;
Control of tools and equipment;
Job analysis for all working prisoners and personnel;
Updated checking of locking devices;
Emergency plan for riots, escape, fire, powers failure and other calamities.

Inmate work programs

The Bureaus work program for inmates has the purpose of keeping inmates
busy and compensating them for their labor in order that they can be have money for
their personal expenses in prison and families. These work programs are funded from
three (3) sources, namely: (1) from appropriated funds for inmates utilized as janitors,
orderlies and other administrative odd jobs; (2) from the Prison Agro-Industries trust
funds for inmates utilized as farm workers; and (3) from joint ventures such as TADECO
as banana plantation workers, Prison Inmate Labor Contract Office and Sam sung for
handicraft contracts. Inmate workers hired by private companies earn higher wages as
shown.
Inmate Education and Training

As a major program in inmate rehabilitation, the Bureau through its seven (7)
prisons undertakes, there are two types of education and training. The first is the nonformal education offered by all penal institution; (1) Adult Literacy (2) applied Training
and (3) Orientation. The second is the formal education offered only at the New Bilibid
Prison, which covers College (BS Commerce), High School, Elementary and Vocational
Courses.
Religious Guidance and Counseling
The religious which includes worship and formation, ministerial rites, paralethargical and counseling is headed by a religious Guidance Adviser. Various religious
volunteers representing Christian denominations and Muslim groups attend the spiritual
need of the inmates. The influence of religion in prison life is strong positive factor in the
restoration of their faith, dignity and manhood.
Counseling Defined. A relationship in which one endeavors to help another solve his
problems of adjustments. This implies mutual consent between the counselor and the
client.
Inmate Health Care
The prison Medical Service of the Bureau of Corrections provides health care
to about 18,000 inmates. The Bureaus biggest hospital has a five hundred (500)
employees. Each of the six (6) other penal institutions has its own hospital/infirmary with
one (1) to three (3) medical officers.
Medical cases that cannot be effectively treated at these hospital/infirmaries
and referred to better equipped government hospitals outside the prisons, chargeable to
the funds of the Bureau. As a standard procedure, inmates referred other hospital are
escorted by security officers and a members of the medical staff a medical allowance of
p.50 (US $0.02) a day is allotted each inmate.
Visitation Services
Inmates are allowed under supervision to be visited by the families and duly
registered friends from Sunday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. Overnight
conjugal visits are made only during special holidays like Christmas, New Year,
valentines and Independence Day.
Parole examination
Then inmates carpets or record of service of sentence are submitted to the
Board of Pardons and Parole a month before the expiry o their minimum sentence
including Good Conduct Time Allowance and incentive imprisonment credits that they
may have earned.

Prison Agro-Industries
Prison agro-industries, which are the source of inmates livelihood programs,
are turned into joint ventures with private companies and non-governmental agencies to
improve production output and to provide adequate work programs for the inmates that
will enable them to earn just compensation while serving their prison sentence. Income
fro the Operation of Agro-industries in partnership whit the private sector augments the
Bureau limited appropriation.
Time-Release Education
Thirty (30) days prior to his scheduled date of release, an inmate is transferred
to the Separation and Placement Center for the purposes of reorientation with the ways
of free society. Service of Non-Governmental Organization and their religious sector are
made possible to the offenders prior to release from prison to assist in their reintegration
to society.
Release
The authorities who approve the release of an inmate are:
a. The Directors of the Bureau of Corrections upon the expiration of the
sentence of the prisoner.
b. The Board of Pardons and Parole in Parole case.
c. The Supreme Court of the Philippines or lower court in cases of
acquittal of the accused prisoner or grant of bail.
d. The President of the Philippines in cases of Executive Clemency or
Amnesty.
A release prisoner is supplied by the bureau with transportation fare to his home plus
gratuity of fifty pesos (P50.00) to cover the cost subsistence en route, and suit of decent
clothes.
The Provincial Jail
The Provincial Jail System was first established in 1910 under the American
regime. Each of the seventy-six (76) provinces has a Provincial Jail is headed by a
Provincial Jail Warden which is appointed by the Provincial Governor, as well as
provincial jail guards with conformity with the Civil Service Law. The DILG serves as the
supervising agency in every Provincial Jail.
The management of our Provincial Jails and its program of rehabilitation are
dependent upon the Provincial Warden and the provincial government. Most of the
Provincial Jails today are faced with the congestion problem and funds. Today, there are
twenty-one (21) provincial government that have constructed their respective subprovincial jails to house prisoners whose prison terms range from six (6) months and
one (1) day to three (3) years. There are now a total of 812 (as of 1993) offenders

confined in these jails, which is being handled by 203 jails guards and personnel. The
seventy-six (76) Provincial Jails have confined 9,865 (as of 1993) offenders and still
growing. These offenders are being provided with 2,439 provincial guards task to
secure and provide reformation unto them.
THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY
Under R.A. 6975, Chapter V creates the BJMP which shall provide the custody
and rehabilitation of City and Municipal Prisoners.
Creation and Composition The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology,
otherwise referred to as the Jail of Bureau is hereby created. It shall initially consist of
officers and uniformed members of the Jail Management and Penology Service as
constituted under Presidential Decree No. 765 composed of the following:
a. Those assigned with the officers of the jail Management and Penology
covered by appropriate orders issued by competent authority and existing
as of January 2, 1991;
b. Those civilian employees issued appointments as jail guard; and
c. Those who entered the INP by way of lateral entry as penologist.
In places where there are no or insufficient Jail personnel, the PNP shall upon
request assign on detail service with the jail station concerned enough PNP uniformed
officer to undertake service functions, until such time as the recruitment of jail personnel
shall have been completed.
Powers and Functions The Jail Bureau shall be headed by a chief with the
rank of Municipal jails. The Provincial Jails, however, shall be supervised and controlled
by the provincial governments. Expenses for the Provincial Jail shall be subsidized by
the National Government for not more that three (3) years after effectively of the act.
Organization and Key Positions The Jail Bureau shall be headed by a chief
with the rank of Director. He shall be assisted by a deputy chief with the rank of chief
superintendent.
The Assistant Heads of the Departments Regional Officers with the rank of
Senior Superintendent shall assume the position title of Assistant Regional Director of
Jail Management and Penology as provided under the operational supervision and
control of the Jail Chief and as such shall exercise direct supervision over the
District/City and Municipal Jail Wardens. However, for maximum efficiency and
effectiveness, their offices shall be attached to the office of DILG regional Director in the
areas of administrative and fiscal services.
The heads of district offices with the rank of Chief Inspector shall have the
position of District Jail Warden.

The Jail Bureau shall be composed of City and Municipal Jails each headed by
a City or Municipal Jail Warden with the rank of Senior Inspector: Provided, that, in the
case of large cities and municipalities. A city or Municipal District Jail with subordinate
jails headed by a City or Municipal District Jail Warden with the rank of Inspector may
be established as necessary.
The Chief of Jail Bureau shall, within twelve (12) months from the effectively of
the Act, recommended to the secretary the organizational structure and staffing pattern
of the Bureau as well as the discretionary machinery for offices and men of the Bureau
in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Act.
Pending the establishment of the disciplinary machinery, erring officers and
men of the Bureau shall be dealt with in accordance with the existing Civil Service rules
and regulations on the matter.
Establishment of District, City or Municipal Jail There shall be established and
maintained in every district, city and municipal a secured, clean, adequately equipped
and sanitary jail for the custody and safekeeping or city and municipal prisoners, any
fugitive from justice, or person detained, awaiting investigation or trial and/or transfer to
the national penitentiary, and/or violent mentally ill person who endangers himself or the
safety of others duly certified as such by the proper medical or health officer, pending
the transfer to a mental institution, the municipal or city jail service shall preferably be
headed by a graduate of four (4) year course in psychology, psychiatry, sociology,
nursing, social work or criminology who shall assist in the immediate rehabilitation of
individuals or detention are respected and protected, and their spiritual and physical
well being are properly and promptly attended to.
Rank Classification For purpose of efficient administration, supervision and
control, the rank classification of the members of the Jail Bureau shall be as follow:
Director
Chief Superintendent
Senior Superintendent
Superintendent
Chief Inspector
Senior Inspector
Inspector
Senior Jail Officer IV
Senior Jail officer III
Senior Jail Officer II
Senior Jail Officer I
Jail Officer III
Jail Officer II
Jail Officer I