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BJMP Welfare and Development Programs

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) oversees four major programs: custody and control of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL); PDL welfare and development; decongestion; and good governance. There are 12 core programs that provide for basic needs, health, education, skills training, livelihood, behavioral management, religious observance, culture and sports, legal assistance, virtual visitation, human rights, and referrals upon release. Special programs address the needs of vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, seniors, persons with disabilities, LGBT individuals, and those with mental health issues.

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2K views

BJMP Welfare and Development Programs

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) oversees four major programs: custody and control of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL); PDL welfare and development; decongestion; and good governance. There are 12 core programs that provide for basic needs, health, education, skills training, livelihood, behavioral management, religious observance, culture and sports, legal assistance, virtual visitation, human rights, and referrals upon release. Special programs address the needs of vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, seniors, persons with disabilities, LGBT individuals, and those with mental health issues.

Uploaded by

rustom jed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BJMP Welfare and Development Programs

Major Programs

There are four (4) major programs under the mandate of BJMP and
they are the following:

1.
1.
1. PDL custody, security and control program.
2. PDL welfare and development program.
3. Decongestion program.
4. Good governance.

Core Programs

A. Provisions of Basic Needs

All PDL under custody are provided with three (3) meals (breakfast,
lunch and supper). Adequate supply of potable water is made
available to them at all times. Likewise, upon admission, each PDL is
issued his or her PDL uniform consisting of the yellow shirt and brown
jogging pants. Hygiene kits are also distributed to the PDL on monthly
or quarterly basis. Occasionally, the provision of basic needs for the
PDL is supplemented by the food and non-food donations from local
government units, non-government organizations, business sector and
private individuals.

B. Health Services

Health services for PDL consist of interventions towards the


prevention, promotion, treatment of illnesses and rehabilitation. All
PDL undergo medical assessment upon admission. During
confinement, PDL are provided with health education and counseling,
medical consultations, regular health monitoring, and provided
medicines subject to availability. To maintain the physical health of
PDL, they are allowed daily sunning and physical exercises.

C. Educational Program
The educational program aims to provide opportunities for PDL to
achieve mandatory education. For this reason, BJMP adopted the
Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Department of Education for
the PDL to earn their elementary and high school diplomas. Teachers
in the jail-based ALS are BJMP Personnel who are professional
teachers and trained on the Instructional Method for ALS. In jails
where there are no personnel trained to handle ALS classes, the ALS
teachers would be coming from the Department of Education. All PDL
enrolled in the ALS earn their respective Time Allowance for Teaching,
Studying and Mentoring (TASTM) pursuant to RA 10592.

D. Skills Training/ Enhancement Program

The objective of the skills training program is to equip the PDL with
technical/vocational skills which they can use in seeking employment
or starting their own business after release from confinement. To
make the PDL as competitive as other potential job seekers, the skills
trainings preferred are those accredited by the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) so that the PDL will be able
to earn National Certifications. Thus, only the PDL who meet the
eligibility requirements of the specific skills training program being
offered can participate.

E. Livelihood Program

The livelihood program presents income-generating activities to PDL


during their confinement where they are able to earn for their personal
upkeep and for financial support to their families. The capital for the
livelihood project are either from BJMP for BJMP-funded projects or
from the common fund of a group of PDL for non-BJMP funded
projects. Examples of continuing and most popular livelihood projects
of PDL are bags and purses, bonsai made of beads, pastries, rugs,
paper crafts, and wood crafts. To help the PDL earn from these
livelihood projects, the jail unit Welfare and Development Officer
(UWDO) facilitates the sale of the products in display centers or
livelihood caravans organized by the local government units and other
service providers. In addition, online or e-marketing of PDL products
is also run by the jail unit Welfare and Development Office.

F. Behavioral Management/ Modification Program


BJMP implements the Therapeutic Community Modality Program
(TCMP) to manage and modify behaviors of PDL with the goal of
positively changing their thinking and behavior through structured
group processes. The program endeavors to teach and model positive
thinking, pro-social values, good decision-making, and positive
coping. Through the program, PDL are trained on socially acceptable
ways of behaving and relating with their fellow PDL and with personnel
and visitors thereby fostering a therapeutic jail environment and
maintaining a peaceful communal atmosphere.

G. Interfaith Program

PDL are provided with the opportunity to practice their faith while
under custody without discrimination, subject only to usual safety and
security measures. The BJMP chaplains and imams provide different
religious services such as but not limited to mass celebrations,
communal prayers, spiritual counseling, catechism, and others.
Religious organizations and their respective ministers/pastors and
leaders are accredited by BJMP to facilitate their regular contact with
PDL for the provision of religious services.

H. Cultural and Sports Program

The cultural program aims to promote camaraderie among PDL,


encourage the development of self-confidence and sharing of cultural
talents as form of positive entertainment. Cultural activities allowed in
jails include dance, singing, theatre/drama, and art workshops. Also,
through this program, PDL experience some sense of social normalcy
through the communal celebrations of socio-cultural events like
birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day, Christmas, Lent
and Easter, Ramadan, local festivals and other similar activities.

I. Paralegal Program

The main objective of the Paralegal Program is to address the


overcrowding in jail facilities. Through the paralegal program, PDL
are assisted in availing of the different early modes of release.
Regional and jail paralegal officers conduct continuous informative
seminars/orientations to PDL on their rights, modes of early release,
and other paralegal/legal remedies which can be availed of by them.
Other paralegal services include paralegal counseling and case follow-
up in the courts by the jail paralegal officers.

J. E-Dalaw

The E-DALAW service is an alternative to the traditional face-to-face


visitation between PDL and respective families. This service enables
the PDL to connect with his/her family through a supervised video call
and chat. The program is conceptualized specifically to cater to PDL
whose family members cannot go to the jail for actual visit because of
the long distance to the jail from the residence or workplace of the
family members. However, in case of jail lockdown by reason of
public health emergency where visitation is suspended, all PDL are
allowed to use the e-dalaw to communicate with their families on
equitable rotation basis.

Support Services

A. Human Rights Desks

Every jail facility operates a 24-hour Human Rights Desk handled by a


designated Human Rights Affairs Officer. The main function of the
Human Rights Desk is to receive complaints concerning human rights
violations from PDL and visitors and to report the complaints thru the
appropriate reporting system to the concerned BJMP offices and to the
Commission on Human Rights for investigation and appropriate action.

B. Help Desk

In line with the government’s policy of providing timely and speedy


access to government services, each jail facility has established its
own Help Desk managed by a designated Held Desk Officer. The Help
Desk functions as a referral unit where PDL and visitors can lodge
their request for assistance concerning personal or family needs.
These requests are evaluated by the Help Desk Officer and all
requests for assistance that cannot be addressed by the jail are
referred to the concerned government agencies for appropriate action.

C. Refferals for Aftercare


Although BJMP recognizes the importance of aftercare program for
PDL to be released for them to start a new, it is limited only to
providing welfare and developmental programs to PDL while they are
in custody. Nevertheless, to ensure continuity of care of PDL upon
release, the jail unit Welfare and Development Officer facilitate
referrals to different community resources. These referrals addressed
to the local government units, non-government organizations and the
business sector usually include but not limited to seeking immediate
financial assistance for PDL’s repatriation, employment/livelihood
assistance, educational/vocational training scholarships, medical and
psychological interventions.

Special Program for Vulnerable Groups

A. Services for Pregnant PDL

Pregnant PDL, by reason of their medical condition, are given special


attention by the jail nurses to ensure compliance to pre-natal and post-
natal care, timely provision of other pregnancy-related needs, and
assistance for the care of the newborn until the latter is endorsed to
the immediate family or accredited child-caring agency.

B. Services for Senior Citizen PDL and PDL with Disabilities

In addition to implementing measures to protect the senior citizen PDL


and PDL with disabilities from discrimination and establishing
functional priority lanes for them, the primary policy is to link them to
the local Office of Senior Citizen Affairs Office (OSCA) and Person with
Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) for the acquisition of their respective
Identification Cards. The respective identification cards issued by the
local government unit are the PDL’s access key to the different
services for senior citizens and persons with disabilities mandated by
the Senior Citizen’s Act and Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities.

C. Services for PDL with other Special Needs

PDL who are members of the LGBT community maybe segregated from
the general population in terms of housing to prevent potential
mistreatments towards them by reason of their gender expression and
other vulnerabilities. Nevertheless, they receive the same programs
and services provided to the general population and they are
encouraged to participate fully in the socio-cultural activities of the
jail.

D. Mental Health Services

In general, preventive mental health aimed at reducing incidence of


mental health disorders and developing positive coping mechanisms
are provided to all PDL. Preventive mental health interventions include
informative seminars on stress management, psycho-educational
counseling and other supportive psychological group activities.
Likewise, psycho-social support services or stress debriefing to
address trauma are facilitated for PDL after the occurrence of
untoward jail incidents or in the aftermath of devastating calamities
directly affecting the PDL.

E. Drug Counseling for PDL with Substance use Disorder

PDL with substance use disorder or have history of illegal drug use and
who were granted plea bargaining under A.M. No. 18-03-16 SC, are
provided with drug counseling using the Katatagan Kontra Droga sa
Komunidad (KKDK) approach. The KKDK is a psycho-educational drug
counseling program developed consisting of twenty-four (24) modules:
eighteen (18) modules to be completed by the PDL in a small group
setting with fellow PDL and six (6) family modules to be participated
by the PDL’s family. The drug counseling runs for maximum duration of
four (4) months.

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