BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY (BJMP)

Republic Act No. 6975, entitled “Department of the Interior and Local
Government Act of 1990”. An Act establishing the Philippine National Police,
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Bureau of Fire Protection under a
Reorganized Department of the Interior and Local Government, and for other
Purposes.
Section 61 of the law states that, “The Jail Bureau shall exercise supervision
and control over all city and municipal jails”.
The BJMP has the mission to direct, supervise and control the administration and
operation of all district, city and municipal jails to effect a better system of jail
management nationwide.
Coverage of Supervision by the Jail Bureau
1. City Jails
2. Municipal jails
3. District jails
Classification of Jails Based on Inmate Population
Class A Jails- with 100 or more inmates
Class B Jails- with 21-99 inmates
Class C Jails- with 1 to 20 inmates
A bureau that functions nationwide in the service of the public and as an arm of
the government in maintaining security, peace and order to the community is required to
upgrade and ensure that the level of qualifications of their uniformed personnel so that
they may effectively assume their duties. For their benefit, standardizing their base pay,
retirement and other benefits, are made at par with those of the PNP and the AFP.
With that, Republic Act No. 9263 implemented, this act is entitled, "Bureau of
Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Professionalization
Act of 2004."

Organization and Key Position of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology
The BJMP shall be respectively headed by a Chief who shall be assisted by two
(2) deputy chiefs,
 one (1) for administration and
 one (1) for operations
 All of whom shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the
Secretary of the DILG from among the qualified officers with at least the rank of senior
superintendent in the service: 

Provided, that in no case shall any officer who has retired or is retirable within six
(6) months from his/her compulsory retirement age be appointed as Chief of the Fire
Bureau or Chief of the Jail Bureau, as the case may be, Provided, further, that the
Chief of the Fire Bureau and Chief of the Jail Bureau shall serve a tour of duty not to
exceed four (4) years: Provided, however, that in times of war or other national
emergency declared by Congress, the President may extend such tour of duty.

Position Rank Position

Head of the BJMP Director Chief of the Jail Bureau
Second Officer in Chief Superintendent Deputy Chief for
command Administration of the Jail
Bureau
Third Officer in command Chief Superintendent Deputy Chief for Operation
of the Jail Bureau
Fourth officer in command Chief Superintendent Chief of Directorial Staff of
the Jail Bureau

He shall be assisted by the

directors of the
directorates in the
respective national
headquarters office with at
least the rank of senior
superintendent.
Head of Regional Offices Senior Superintendent Regional Director of Jail
Management and
Penology
Regional Offices Superintendent  Assistant Regional
Director for
Administration,
 Assistant Regional
Director for Operations,
and
 Regional Chief of
Directorial Staff.

Provincial Office Superintendent Provincial Administrator

District Office Chief Inspector District Warden
- large cities and
municipalities
City and Municipal Office Chief Inspector City or Municipal Warden
RANK CLASSIFICATION AND APPOINTMENT OF UNIFORMED PERSONNEL IN
THE BJMP

Commissioned Officers: Rank Appointment of

Uniformed Personnel in
the BJMP

Director Appointed by the President

Chief Superintendent upon recommendation of
the Secretary of the DILG
with the proper
endorsement of the
chairman of CSC.

Senior Appointed by the Secretary

Superintendent of the DILG upon
recommendation of the
CBJMP with the proper
attestation of the CSC.

Superintendent Appointed by the Chief

Chief Inspector BJMP as recommended by
Senior Inspector their immediate superiors
Inspector and attested by the CSC

Non-commissioned Officers:
SJO4 Shall be appointed by the
SJO3 Regional Director for the
SJO2 regional office uniformed
SJO1 personnel or by the BJMP
JO3 Chief for the national
JO2 headquarters office and
JO1 attested by the CSC.
ADMISSION PROCEDURES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE DIFFERENT OFFICES AND
PROGRAMS IN JAILS AND PRISON

Purpose of Confinement
A person is committed to prison or jail because of the following reasons:
a. to segregate him from society; and
b. To rehabilitate him so that upon his return to society he shall be responsible and
law-abiding citizen.
BUREAU OF CORRECTION ADMISSION PROCEDURE
Safekeeping
The custodial component of the BuCor's present corrections system.
Refer to the act that ensures the public that national inmates are provided with
their basic needs, completely incapacitated from further committing criminal acts, and
have been totally cut off from their criminal networks while serving sentences inside the
premises of the National Penitentiary.
Reformation
The rehabilitation component of the BucOr's present correctional system.
Shall refer to the acts which ensure the public that released national inmates are
no longer harmful to the community by becoming reformed individuals prepared to live a
normal and productive life upon reintegration in the mainstream society.
Manning Level of the Bucor
a. Custodial personnel-to-inmate ration= 1:7
b. Reformation personnel-to-inmate ration= 1:24

Operations of the Bureau of Corrections

A. Directorate for the Reception and Diagnostics (DRD former RDC)

- Receive, study and classify inmates and detainees committed to the BuCor
- shall undertake reception of inmates.
- This is a special unit of prison where new prisoners undergo diagnostic
examination, study and observation for the purpose of determining the programs of
treatment and training best suited to their needs and the institution to which they
should be transferred.
 B. Security and Operations Directorate(SOD)
- provide basic needs and security

C. Reformation Directorates
- administer reformation program

D. Directorate For External Relations (DER) , formerly External Relations

Divisions( ERD)
- prepare inmates for reintegration to mainstream society.

The Quarantine Cell or Unit

A unit of the prison or section of the RDC where the prisoner is given thorough
physical examination including blood test, x-rays, vaccinations and immunity.
An inmate shall be placed in quarantine for at least five (5) days.
After the quarantine period, the inmate shall remain at the RDC for a period not
exceeding fifty-five (55) days where he shall undergo psychiatric, psychological,
sociological, vocational educational, religious and other examinations.

Staff Members of DRD/ RDC and their functions

1. The Psychiatrist - responsible for the examination of the prisoner's mental and
emotional make-up.
2. The Psychologits- responsible ti conduct study on the character and behavior of
the prisoners.
3. The Sociologist- study the social case situation of the individual prisoner.
4. The Educational Counselor- consducts orientation classes in order to change
inmates' attitude towards education and recommends educational programs for
the prisoner.
5. The Vocational Counselor- to test the prisoner's special abilities, interest and
skills and recommends for the vocational course best suited to the prisoner.
6. The Chaplain-encourage the prisoner to participate in religious activities.
7. The Medical Officer- conducts physical examination and recommends medical
treatment of prisoners.
 8. Custodial- Correctional Officer- recommends the transfer and type of custody of
inmates.

Admission Procedure in Prison

1. Receiving- The new prisoner is received at the RDC. He usually comes from a
provincial or city jail where he was immediately committed upon conviction by the
court, and escorted by the escort platoon during his transfer to National Prison.
2. Checking of Commitment Papers - the receiving officer checks the
commitment papers if they are in order. That is if they contain signatures of the
judge or the clerk of the court and the seal of the court.
3. Establishing Identity of the Prisoner- the prisoner's is established through the
picture and the fingerprint appearing in the commitment order.
4. Searching the Prisoner -this step involves the frisking of the prisoner and
searching his personal things. Items classified as contrabands are confiscated by
the property custodian and custodian other properties are deposited with the trust
fund officer under recording and receipts.
5. Briefing and Orientation - the prisoner will be briefed and oriented on the rules
and regulations of the prison before he will be assigned to the RDC or quarantine
unit.

Admission
After registration, the inmate shall be photographed, front and side view,
fingerprinted and assigned a permanent prison number.
The male inmates shall be given regulation haircut and his beard/ mustache if
any shall be shaven.

Issuance of Uniforms Etc.

The newly- admitted inmate shall be issued two regulation uniforms/suits and two
t-shirts

Whenever practicable, he shall also be issued the following items:

a. One blanket
b. One mat
c. One pillow
d. One mosquito net
 e. One set, mess kit
f. One pair slippers
The inmate shall be held responsible and accountable for the items issued to him.
Personal Effect of the Inmate
In addition to the articles supplied by the prison, the inmate may bring clothes
and other items essential to his well-being, provided the quality, nature and dimension
thereof will not interfere with the safety and living conditions of the other inmates.
The Superintendent may allow the inmate to bring in electrical equipment like
television sets, radio cassettes video players, electric fan and similar items provided that
the same is for common use with other inmates.
Inmates are not allowed to bring in luxurious items such as air conditioners,
carpets, sofas, beds, sleeping mattresses, washing machines and the likes.

Wearing of Jewelry
An inmate may not wear any jewelry items he may however be allowed
inexpensive watch.

THE TREATMENT PROGRAMS

The two approaches in treating criminal offenders.

1. Institutional-based treatment
2. The community based treatment programs.

Institutional Treatment or Reformation Programs

a. Education and Training Program
The CORNERSTONE OF REHABILITATION
It is the process or result of formal training in schools or classrooms
intended to shape the mind and attitude of the prisoners towards good living
upon their release.
Classes of Prison Education:
a. General and Academic Education
b. Vocational Education
b. Work and Livelihood Programs
 Purposely to eliminate idleness on the part of prisoners, which may
contribute to "prison stupor", and its affect the incidence of prison riot.

c. Moral and Spiritual Program

The purpose of this program is to change the attitudes of inmatea by
inculcating religious values or belief.

d. Sports and Recreation Programs

e. Health and Welfare program
f. Behavior Modification Program to include Therapeutic Community /
Counseling and Casework

The Reformation programs shall be undertaken by Professional Reformation

Personnel consisting of Corrections Technical Officers.
Corrections Technical Officers
These are personnel employed in the implementation of reformation
programs.
Who are Correction Technical Officers?
Include priest, evangelist, pastors, teachers, instructors, professors, vocational
placement officers, librarians, guidance counselors, physician, nurses, medical
technologist, pharmacist, dentist, therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, sociologist, social
workers, engineers, electricians, agriculturist, veterinarians, lawyers and similar
professional skills, relevant to the implementation of inmate reformation programs.