Institutional Correction

COMMITMENT AND CLASSIFICATION

OF PRISONERS AND DETAINEES
• RECEPTION PROCEDURES
• CLASSIFICATION BOARD
 RECEPTION PROCEDURES

• A decent and humane confinement program starts

with a systematic reception of inmates for
commitment to the BJMP’s jail facilities.
 THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES SHOULD THEREFORE
B E O B S E RV E D :

1. Gater - He or she checks the person's credentials bringing the inmate/the committing
officer to determine his/her identity and authority. Also, he or she reviews the
completeness of the following documents before the person bringing an inmate/the
committing officer is allowed to enter the facility.
1. Commitment Order;
2. Medical Certificate – recent medical certificate has taken within 24 hours before admission;
3.Complaint/Information;
4. Police Booking Sheet; and
5. Certificate of Detention from PNP and/or NBI.

Additionally, the "gater" shall subject the person to be committed and his/her escorts
for search and inspection as prescribed. Finally, he or she (gater) refers the person to be
committed and escorts to the Records Unit.
 RECORDS UNIT

• This unit examines the completeness and

authenticity of the requirements for
Commitment (Commitment Order, Booking
Sheet, Arrest Report, and Information) before
it refers the inmate for physical examination
by the Health Unit.
 HEALTH UNIT

1. Checks the authenticity of the entries in the medical certificate;

conducts a thorough physical examination of the inmate to
determine his or her actual physical condition, and asks searching
questions to determine injury/injuries found to have been sustained
by the inmate after the conduct of the medical examination or those
injuries not diagnosed before commitment in jail.
• Inmate is required to undress while undergoing medical examination.
• A female inmate shall be examined by female health personnel.
• A male inmate may be examined by either male or female health
personnel;
 HEALTH UNIT

2. In case of any discrepancy is found during physical examination, but the same
discrepancy is not indicated in the medical certificate, the committing officer
shall be required to secure another medical certificate of the inmate.
• The commitment of an inmate shall be held in abeyance pending the submission
of a new medical certificate with findings congruent to the medical findings of
the jail physician/nurse.
• The reason for the deferment of commitment shall be recorded in the jail blotter.
• In case the committing officer fails to return the inmate to jail within twenty-
four (24) hours, the reasons for the deferment of commitment and the grounds
thereof shall be reported immediately to the court that issued the commitment
order;
 HEALTH UNIT

3. In the absence of a jail nurse/medical personnel, the

receiving officer shall refer the person to be committed to
the nearest government health facility for medical
evaluation (check the medical certificate and observe the
mental alertness, physical abnormalities and overall
appearance of the inmates); and
4. If no discrepancy is found during physical examination,
the inmate shall be referred back to the Records Unit.
 RECORDS UNIT

1. Start the booking procedures:

a. Accomplish the jail booking sheet;
b. Strip-search the inmate to check for any birthmarks, tattoos, etc.;
c. Encode the inmate's information to the Nationwide Inmates Management
system (NIMS);
d. Fingerprint and photograph the inmate with mug shot background; and
e. List the names of the visitors authorized by the inmate.
2. Apprise the inmate in a dialect that he/she understands the provisions of Art 29 of
the RPC, which was further amended by R.A. 10592; (Refer to ANNEX "A") “ART.
29. Period of preventive imprisonment deducted from term of imprisonment.”
 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10592

• “ART. 29. Period of preventive imprisonment deducted from term of

imprisonment. – Offenders or accused who have undergone preventive
imprisonment shall be credited with the full time served during preventive
imprisonment toward the completion of their sentence consisting of
deprivation of liberty if the detention prisoner agrees voluntarily in writing
after being informed of the consequences and with the assistance of counsel
to follow the same disciplinary rules as convicted prisoners, except in the
following cases:
“1. When they are recidivists or have been convicted previously twice or
more times of any crime; and
“2. When upon being summoned for the execution of their sentence, they
have failed to surrender voluntarily.
• If the detention prisoner does not agree to follow the
same disciplinary rules as convicted prisoners, he
shall do so in writing with the assistance of counsel
and shall be credited with four-fifths of the time
spent in preventive imprisonment toward the service
of his sentence. 
• Credit for preventive imprisonment for the penalty
of reclusion perpetua shall be deducted from thirty
(30) years. 
• The actual period of detention with a good conduct time
allowance shall be used to calculate preventive
imprisonment for immediate release. 
• However, if the accused is absent without justification at any
stage of the trial, the court may motu proprio order the
rearrest of the accused
• Provided, however, that recidivists, habitual delinquents,
escapees, and persons charged with heinous crimes are
excluded from the scope of this Act; and
• If the maximum penalty imposed on the accused is destierro,
he shall be released after thirty (30) days of preventive
imprisonment.
3. Facilitate the signing of the Detainee’s
Manifestation if he/she agrees to abide by the same
disciplinary rules imposed upon convicted inmates.
• Otherwise, the warden issues a certification under
oath manifesting that the inmate was apprised of the
provision of Art 29 of the RPC as amended and
refused to abide by the same; and
4. Store all documents in the Inmate’s Carpeta.
 PROPERTY CUSTODIAN

1. Checks the inmate’s belongings for the presence of contraband.

Discovery of any contraband shall be treated under existing policies.
2. Takes all cash and other personal properties from the inmate lists
them down on a receipt form with duplicate, duly signed by him/her,
and countersigned by the inmate. The original receipt should be
given to the inmate, and the Property Custodian keep the duplicate.
3. Keeps all cash and other valuables of the inmate in a safety vault.
Said cash and valuables may be turned over to any person authorized
by the inmate.
4. Refers the inmate to the desk officer.
 DESK OFFICER

• He/she books the newly committed inmate in the

jail blotter; assigns the inmate to a reception area, if
any, where he/she shall be scheduled for orientation
on jail rules and regulation, and shall undergo risk
assessment and classification, evaluation, and
conduct of further medical evaluation/screening by
the Medical Officer.
 ASSISTANT WARDEN OR OFFICER OF THE DAY

• Orients the newly committed inmates on jail rules and

regulations using the Inmate’s Orientation Sheet.
 JAIL WARDEN

• •Coordinates with concerned agencies regarding the case of an inmate for

speedy disposition and to furnishes them with copies of the available
needed documents.
• The jail warden shall see to it that all concerned agencies and persons will
be informed of the inmate's commitment in his/her jail by submitting a
written report.
• Through his/her paralegal officer, he/she shall ensure that the courts and
prosecutors' office are attending to the inmate's case by constantly
coordinating with them to speed up the disposition of the case.
• For this purpose, the sharing of non-confidential information with the
concerned agencies is encouraged.
 TH E F O LLO W I N G A G EN C I ES /P ER S O N S SH A LL B E N O TI F I ED B Y T H E
WA R D EN U P O N
C O M M I TM E N T O F TH E I N M ATE:

1. Presiding Judge, Executive Judge, and Clerk of court - (monthly submission of list of
committed inmates to the presiding judge is mandatory)
2. PNP, NBI and Family – mandatory
3. PAO lawyer, IBP legal aide - in case of indigent inmate and unavailability of PAO lawyer
4. Private lawyer, Priest or religious minister and Private physician - upon request upon
request
5. Commission on Human Rights - as needed/to submit list of committed inmates monthly
6. Public physician, Psychologist/ Psychiatrist - as needed
7. Embassy - mandatory in case of foreign national/alien
8. DSWD - mandatory in case of CICL
9. Court/ Other branches - in case of multiple cases
 CLASSIFICATION BOARD

Chairperson - Assistant Warden

Member - Chief, Custodial/Security Office
Member - Medical Officer/Public Health Officer
Member - Jail Chaplain
Member - Inmates Welfare and Development
Officer
 DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE CLASSIFICATION BOARD

Is tasked to conduct a background investigation of inmates to determine the cell

assignment, the appropriate rehabilitative program, the type of supervision, degree of
custody, and restrictions applicable to the inmate/s. The investigation shall focus 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 validation of his/her profile. Upon completion of the
classification 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 good.
• If he/she is willing, the Board will ensure 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 an assessment by 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 note down significant bodily marks, scars, tattoos, and lesions based on the
medical certificate presented by the committing officer. He or she must ensure that
his/her findings are congruent 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 a
psychological examination to determine the inmate’s psychological state at the
time of examination. Results will be recorded in the psychologist’s logbook or
the health assessment card/have 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 an in-depth interview with the newly admitted inmate. This
interview considers "who the inmate is" from birth up to the
present, including his/her family/domestic, educational, social,
vocational, and other issues that impact 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 social worker-in-charge will do the interview upon the court's
order or as requested by the medical officer, the psychiatrist, or the
duly designated jail warden for specific purposes.
g. Risk Assessment - The level of violence/risk the inmate poses, either
external or internal. This will help in the proper classification and
segregation of inmates and 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 inmate's present
mental state and 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.
Case Management - Each inmate will be assigned
to a specific case manager who may be a
psychologist, a social worker, or a nurse.
• The case manager shall be responsible for
consolidating all the results and making the proper
decision as to the classification of the inmates and
the identification development programs for each
inmate.
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 final evaluation results, 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, change, and enhance the inmate's
development program/s, depending on his or her behavioral progress.
Thank you for listening.