PANPACIFIC UNIVERSITY

Urdaneta City

Graduate School

___________________________________________________________________________

Student: BESMART S ESLAVA

Facilitator: CRMGST. AUDIE ROJAS

Course: MODERN PENOLOGY

Topic: Comparison of Dagupan City Jail in Modern Penology

Date: May 23, 2019

I. INTRODUCTION

For the past decades, it is often perceived that penal philosophy and

practice became more conservative. From focusing away from traditional

concerns of criminology, present penology focused on the individual and

redirects it to actuarial consideration of aggregates. This shift enables

development of a model of a new type of criminal process that embraces

increased reliance on imprisonment and that merges concerns for

surveillance and custody, that shifts away from a concern with punishing

individuals to managing aggregates of dangerous groups. These shifts have

multiple and independent origins and are not reducible to any one reigning

idea. Despite their different origins, the elements of this emerging new
conception have coalesced to form what may be thought of as a new

strategic formation in the penal field, which we call the modern penology.

Less concerned with responsibility, fault, moral sensibility, diagnosis,

or intervention and treatment of the individual offender, present penology

concerned with techniques to identify, classify, and manage groupings

sorted by dangerousness. Therefore, the task is managerial, not

transformative.

Globally, the jail or prison management is guided by a law or

procedure that adheres to accepted standard such as UN Standard Minimum

Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules). This

international instrument sets minimum standard ensuring the human right,

dignity and other betterment of prisoners. Among others, the rule provides

for the separation of category, accommodation, classification of individual

and more. Having those accepted international standards, every country

today such as the Philippines designed a law or procedure intended to meet

the modern penology management.

The Philippine has fragmented correctional system composed of three

agencies- (Bureau of Correction BuCor) under DOJ, Bureau of Child and

Welfare under DSWD and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology

(BJMP) under DILG.

Envisions itself as a dynamic institution highly regarded for its sustained

humane safekeeping and development of inmates, BJMP exercises

jails. The Bureau aims to enhance public safety by providing humane

safekeeping and development of inmates in all district, city and municipal

jails. To effectively and more efficiently manages inmates, BJMP use or adopt

technique such as classification of inmates. Accordingly, The BJMP operates

nationally by establishing district, provincial, and city jail throughout the

country.

One City jail in the Province of Pangsinan is Dagupan City Jail located

at Bonuan Gueset Dagupan City. BJMP-Dagupan has 1,067 inmates according

to BJMP city jail warden, Superintendent Kenneth Bid-ing in his 2018

Philippine News Agency interview.

Having common procedure and problem such as overcrowding, the city

jail has a management set up to for better safekeeping and development of

inmates. this research paper more focused on classification of inmates.

BODY

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has

Comprehensive Operational Manual (2015 edition). On rule II and III on the

BJMP manual provides for commitment and classification of detainees and

reception and releasing procedures and classification board.

grouping of inmates according to their respective penalty, gender, age,

nationality, health, criminal records, etc.

Classification is a method of handling prisoners on the basis of the

physical, intellectual, vocational, attitudinal and other characteristics

embodied in each individual. It recognizes that the important element in

prison management is the individual prisoner. If his incarceration is to

benefit him and society as well, he must be handled in such a way that when

he serves his term, he will come out as a better man physically, mentally and

morally than when he entered. Classification implies, first, an intensive

analysis of the offender and second, his placement in a work or school

program suitable for the exercise of his talents to the end that himself and

others concerned will profit from the program^. One of the greatest

advantages of classification is that it prevents the evil effects of

contamination of prisoners having varying degrees of criminality.

Classification would also enable the prison administration to provide different

types of treatment to different categories of prisoners according to their

individual capacities and needs for reform and rehabilitation (Rahataker

2015).

COMMITMENT AND CLASSIFICATION OF PRISONERS AND DETAINEES

appropriate order by a competent court or authority so mandated under

Philippine laws. This Rule enumerates courts and authorities, and classifies

inmates according to the conditions for their commitment. 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.

Section 17 Classifies PRISONERS as

a. Insular Prisoner

b. Provincial Prisoner

c. City Prisoner

d. Municipal Prisoner –

Section 18 clasifies DETAINEES as

a. Undergoing investigation;

b. Awaiting or undergoing trial; and

c. Awaiting final judgment.

According to security risk each may pose, Section 19 classifies INMATES as:
a. High Profile Inmate - those who require increased security based on

intense media coverage or public concern as a result of their offense such as

but not limited to those who have been involved in a highly controversial or

sensationalized crime or 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. This includes those charged with

heinous crimes such as murder, kidnapping for ransom, economic sabotage,

syndicated or organized crimes, etc. Also included are inmates with military

or police trainings or those whose life is in danger or under imminent threat.

c. High Value Target (HVT) - a target, either a resource or a person, who may

either be an enemy combatant, high ranking official or a civilian in danger of

capture or death, typically in possession of critical intelligence, data, or

authority 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 and 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 in the high seas or in the Philippine waters, rebellion or

insurrection, coup d’état, murder, kidnapping and 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, illegal and unlawful

possession, manufacture, dealing in, acquisition or disposition 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 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. These inmates still require greater security, control and

supervision as they might escape from and might commit violence inside the

jail.
i. Minimum Risk Inmates (Ordinary Inmates) - those inmates who have lesser

tendencies to commit offenses and generally pose the least risk to public

safety. In most cases, they may be first time offenders and are charged with

light offenses

under section 23 of the manual provides for the creation of The Classification

Board which is tasked to conduct background investigation of inmates to

determine the cell assignment, the appropriate rehabilitative program, the

type of supervision and degree of custody and restrictions applicable to the

inmate/s. The investigation focuses on the following:

a. Facts and data of the present case;

b. Inmate's recent criminal history and the facts about the inmate's attitudes

and behavior while confined in other institutions, if the inmate is a recidivist

or a habitual delinquent;

c. Biography or life history;

d. Medical History;

e. Vocational, recreational, educational and religious background/interests;

and

f. Psychological characteristics as evaluated by the psychiatrist and

psychologist.

The inmate is required to appear before the Classification Board for

assessment, the

inmate is then apprised of his/her cell assignment and welfare programs

appropriate for him/her. He/she is asked if he/she is willing to undergo this

program for his/her own good. If he/she is willing, the Board will see to it that

the

program planned for the inmate is followed. Then the inmate is assigned to

his/her

cell according to the approved classification.

CLASSIFICATION PROCESS

a. Admission of Inmate - Once the inmate has undergone the registration

process; he/she will be temporarily housed at the Inmate Classification and

Counseling Unit (ICCU) in jails where it is available. The inmate shall stay at

the ICCU for a minimum period of thirty (30) days but not exceeding sixty

(60) days or until the completion of the classification process. At the ICCU,

the newly committed inmate will undergo assessment by the different health

professionals.

b. Medical Examination - The jail medical Officer or the jail officer designated

nurse of the Health Unit will conduct a thorough physical examination on the

newly committed inmate and will note down significant bodily marks, scars,

tattoos and lesions based on the medical certificate presented by the

to the medical certificate presented. Any discrepancy shall warrant further

investigation by and reporting of the same to the CHR.

c. Results of the medical examination shall be recorded and shall bear the

signature of the physician or nurse who conducted the examination. Medical

issues will be attended to accordingly.

d. Dental Examination - The jail dentist shall perform a thorough dental

examination and recording of his or her findings. The record shall bear the

signature of the dentist who conducted the examination. Dental issues that

need immediate attention shall be so attended to accordingly.

e. Psychological Examination - The jail psychologist-in-charge shall conduct

psychological examination to determine the inmate’s psychological state at

the time of examination. Results will be recorded in the psychologist’s

logbook or in the health assessment card/HAS and shall bear the signature of

the psychologist who conducted the examination.

f. Social Case Study - The jail social worker at the ICCU shall conduct in-depth

interview with the newly admitted inmate, an interview that considers the

"who the inmate is" from birth up to the present including his/her familial,

educational, social, vocational and other issues that has an impact on his/her

personality. The findings will be recorded and shall bear the signature of the

social worker who conducted the assessment. In jails without ICCU, the

interview will be done by the social worker-in-charge upon the order of the
court or as requested by the medical officer, the psychiatrist or the duly

designated jail warden for specific purposes.

g. Risk Assessment - A risk assessment tool shall be utilized to determine the

level of violence/risk the inmate poses, either external or internal. This will

help in the proper classification and segregation of inmates and in the design

of specific development plans.

h. Psychiatric Evaluation - Using the results of the psychological examination,

social case study, and risk assessment, the psychiatrist conducts a

psychiatric evaluation to determine the present mental state of the inmate

and to diagnose any existing psychiatric illness for further treatment. The

result will be recorded and shall bear the signature of the psychiatrist who

conducted the examination. The inmate shall undergo psychiatric evaluation

under the following conditions:

i. Case Management - Each inmate will be assigned to a specific case

manager who may either be a psychologist, a social worker or a nurse. The

case manager shall be responsible for the consolidation of all the results and

shall make the proper decision as to the classification of the inmates and the

identification development programs for each inmate.

j. Inmate Orientation and Counseling - While undergoing assessment, the

inmate shall be oriented on the basic jail rules and regulations. He/she shall

be introduced to the different development programs that would best

promote his/her personal growth. In this phase, the newly committed inmate
shall likewise undergo counseling for him/her to develop better coping skills

thereby preventing psychological imbalance in the early phase of

incarceration.

k. Inmate Evaluation and Classification - Using the different tools of

assessment, the newly committed inmate will now be classified based on the

level of risk and present physical, mental and emotional state.

l. Proper Cell Assignment and Development Plans - After the inmate has

undergone all the assessments, his/her case manager shall consolidate all

the results. Based on the results of the final evaluation, the inmate may then

be assigned to the cell that is deemed best for his/her growth and well-being.

m. The newly committed inmate is encouraged to participate in the

recommended development programs.

n. Monitoring - After the inmate has been transferred to his/her assigned cell

and has been attending the prescribed development programs, the case

manager shall periodically monitor, and change and enhance inmate's

development program/s depending on his or her behavioral progress.

CONCLUSSION

The management set up or procedure of jail in Dagupan city jail is,

accordingly, the same to the jail management all over the Philippines and

that such managerial set up (specifically commitment, classification, and

segregation) adheres to the UN statndart minimum rule for the treatment of

of pressoners.

Referrences:

BJMP Comprehensive Operations Manual 2015 Edition

Nelson Mandela International Day, July 18, For Freedom, Justice and

Democracy. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/mandela_rules.shtml

Rahatekar, A., & Rahatekar, A. (n.d.). Classification of Prisoners.

Retrieved from

https://www.academia.edu/36350150/Classification_of_Prisoners