Baseline Study on the Philippine Penal Conditions: Nurturing o Human Rights Based Approach to Penal Management
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Thus, while in the RDC, inmates must be properly oriented on desirable inmate behaviors. Inmates
must be oriented on prison rules and regulations. A Prison Inmate Manual must be provided to each
inmate. The Prison Inmate Manual spells out the dos and don' ts inside the cells. It will also spell out the
penalties that will be assessed to the inmates if they violate any of the rules and regulations. It will spell
out the disciplinary process and the rights of the inmates in the disciplinary process.
Information previously gathered by the Detention agencies and BJMP Jails or Provincial Jails must
a lso be compiled in the RDCs. This includes data on demographic information, biometric information,
case information, criminal history, and life history of the inmates. The RDC must maintain a computerized
database of inmate information. All documents pertaining to the inmates must have an electronic version
(case decisions, certification of detention, certification of good moral character, etc.) . This information
must be systematically linked to the BuCor's Records and Document section database.
The re-structured RDC must be staffed with competent personnel. Masters level psychologists, social
workers, criminologists, and sociologists with prove n skills and backgrounds, must be hired to increase
technical capacities of the staff. Computer programmers must also be hired to systematize the data
collected in the RDC.
By having an integrated inmate classification scheme among Detention Centers, Jails. and Prisons.
the different agencies can work in unison. There is a uniform understanding of the types of inmates
under their care, the kind of information to be collected and documented, and the procedures that need
to be implemented.
c. Inmate Housing
The second key domain in correctional management is inmate housing. These include proper housing
provisions, housing assignment and segregation, and housing security. All these are closely intertwined
w ith the inmates' level of risk, needs and responsivity.
It ........................ .
In all correctional facilities. housing provisions must consider the
Focus group
proper physical and psychological upkeep of the inmates. Cell and brigade
discussion: What do
spaces must be clean and spacious and inmates must have access to toilets
local and international
and baths. Ce lls must also have proper humidity, ventilation and lighting.
human rights standards
Inmates must be individually provided with bed bunks. In terms of cell
say about the treatment
services. food and water must be regularly served in a decent manner.
ofprisoners with regard
There must be a well-maintained kitchen and mess halls. Inmates must
be provided with sufficient clothing. Inmates must be regularly provided
to accommodation?
with to iletries and medicines when needed. There must also be decent
areas for visitations. Cells must be sensitive to the needs of inmates with disabilities. Medical services
must be made available to inmates. Inmates must have access to physicians and dentists. 28
The inmate classification scheme must guide the housing assignment and segregation scheme. Informed
by the risks, need and responsivity (RNR) criteria, inmates with similar range of scores must be placed
and segregated accordingly. High risk inmates require maximum supervision and control, limited inmate
movement, and limited privileges. Low risk inmates, on the other hand, must be accorded minimal supervision
and control, liberal inmate movement, and maximum privileges. Special housing must be designated for
inmates with special needs. Women and under-age inmates must be separated from male and older inmates.
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These requirements are spelled out in UN Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Prisoners (1955) in which the Philippines is a signatory. These rules
are recently updated and revised in the Nelson Mandela Rules promulgated by the UN General Assembly in December 17, 2015.