Baseline Study on the Philippine Penal Conditions: Nurturing a Human Rights Based Approach to Penal Management
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Transfer o f ho using must strictly be based on behavioral criteria. Inmates who had dutifully followed
the rules and regulations in higher-level security housing can be transferred to lower-level security
housing. Inmates who failed to follow rules and engaged in infractions can be transferred to higher
security levels. It is ideal that inmates advance to low er levels of security upon demonstration of good
be havior and inmates are released from Housing Level 1 so they can avail of pre-release programs.
These new housing placement and segregation suggest that dorm and cell assignments m ust be
reclaimed from the old inmate mayores system and the gangs. With a housing assignment based on
RNR criteria, assigning inmates based on militaristic gang affiliations w ill no longer be tolerated. Jail and
prison officers must have the sole prerogative to determine inmate housing placement. The "bidding
process" where inmates are auctioned to t he highest bidders must be e radicated. The placement of
inmates to "Minimum" due to special arrangements with prison o ffi cials should be eradicated as well.
At the present context, this will be a very challenging task. Inmate mayores and gangs have fully
taken over housing placement and segregation. The gangs in fact had privatized the cell spaces they
occupied. Additionally, disrupting this age-old penal practice w ithout the attendant faciliti es, personnel,
and resources, w ill simply make the situation worse.
In the interim, the inmate mayores and the gangs must be redirected towards acceptance of the new
penal philosophy. With proper criteria and procedure for the selection of officers, inmate mayores can
be redirected towards developme ntal activities. Gangs can also be redirected as "Barangay" (Villages)
w here they can maintain their self-help activities and limit thei r militarism and violence.
When proper facilities, personnel a nd resources are in place, inmate mayores w ill tra nsform into
' peer mentors' and the gangs w ill be replaced by legitimate inmate organizations.
d. Inmate programming
Inmate programming is another key domain
of effective correctiona l management. Upo n
successful inmate classification and housing
placement, inmates must undergo a holistic
and susta ined p rogramming. The programs
must address the criminogenic factors that led
inmates to the commission of their crimes.
• The classification scheme, wh ich are based
on RNR criteria, will inform w hat progra ms
should be undertaken by the inmate. For
example. inmates who used and abused d rugs
must undergo d rug anti-relapse prevention
Inmates participating in educational program
programs a nd inmates w ho committed sexrelated offenses must undergo sex therapy programs. This suggests that programs must be individualized
and no "one shoe fits all" inmates.
Inmate programming goes hand in ha nd w ith inmate housing. Program content and del ivery will
vary based on inmate's housing level s. In more restrictive settings (Level Ill) emphasis w ill be on cognitive
change programs. In less restrictive settings (Level II and I) inmates can be introduced to equipping and
reentry progra ms.
Inmate programming. like the other components, entails the provision of faci lities, personnel and
resources. In terms of facilities. there must be areas for inmates to cond uct the rehabilitation programs. At
30