Therapeutic Community Modality Program

(TCMP)
Introduction
Inmate’s rights
History of Therapeutic Modality in the BJMP

Prepared by: Elmer Rivera Linga

The mandate of the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology (BJMP) is both safekeeping and
development of inmates. The thrust of Directorate for
Inmates Welfare and Development is to devise
programs for inmate development to prepare them
for their eventual reintegration to the society.
Behavioral and Psychological development is of
outmost importance since some offenders lack the
necessary moral, emotional and psychological stability
to make them law abiding citizens upon release from
jail.
The therapeutic Community Modality Program
(TCMP) is a self-social learning treatment model
which utilizes the community as the primary
therapeutic vehicle to foster behavioural and
attitudinal change. In this modality, the person
learns and practices skills and responsibilities
through structured activities that they can
transfer to the society upon their release. Each
participant is expected to be contributing
member of the community.
At present, TCMP Is recognized as the backbone program of
the BJMP for the inmate development and it is being
implemented in majority of the jails nationwide. The program
was inconsistently wavered due to various reasons. Despite
the training of numerous jail personnel, the practice of TCMP
remained far from being ideal. A lot of modifications and
deviations were introduced that some programs lost their
fidelity to the core essence of TCMP. It is for this reason that
this official BJMP Manual was crafted to serve as reference
and guide to TCMP practitioners to attain uniformity in the
practice of the program, BJMP personnel, as well as inmates,
should be well versed with the contents of the manual as
these are necessary to attain therapeutic goals.
In the BJMP, The therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP) was
introduced in 1998 when a group of personnel underwent a six (6) WEEK
LIVE-IN TRAINERS TRAINING UNDER THE DAYTOP TRAINERS, NAMELY
Aloysious Joseph, Frederick Loke, Jimmy Curtin and Fernando Perlas.
The program was initially implemented in the National Capital Region
(NCR). The TCMP training was cascaded to a significant number of BJMP
PERSONNEL. The Jail National Training Institute (JNTI) likewise
incorporated the TCMP into it Program of Instruction (POI) for BJMP
personnel undergoing mandatory trainings. Despite the significant
number of trainers training conducted, sustaining the TCMP in jails
remained a challenge. There is also the prevailing issue of development
versus security. The Wardens were adamant to implement the program
for fear of security laxity due to the increase mobility of inmates during
activities. The low ratio of jail personnel to inmates has caused such
alarm.
The DIWD came up with a program decentralizing the
training activities to minimize manpower and resources.
Every Region was required to identify and establish a
regional model TC jail which will be developed by a
regional core group of TC trainers. The regional model of
TC jail will then serve as a training center for prospective
TC staff for the respective regions. This is an effective
way of reaching even the rural jails to implement the
TCMP on a national scale.
 1. You have the right to be treated as a human being and not to
be subjected to corporal punishment. You have the
responsibility to allow your fellow inmates, visitors and staff
enjoy the same rights.
2. You have the right to be informed of the rules and
regulations governing the detention center. You have the
responsibility to obey such rules and regulations.
3. You have the right to adequate food commensurate to the
Prisoner Subsistence Allowance (PSA) as well as space and
ventilation, rest and recreation. You have the responsibility to
use the things allowed, the facilities and equipment properly
4. You have the right to avail of medical, dental and other health
services readily available in the place you are detained. You have
the responsibility to inform and advise us of your health
problems and to follow the prescribed treatment.
5. You have the right to a visit by a lawyer or your counsel,
medical doctor or religious minister anytime subject to
reasonable regulation. You have the responsibility to use the
services of such counsel, medical doctor or religious minister
honestly and fairly
6. You have the right to free exercise and enjoyment of religious
profession and worship. You have the responsibility not to do
harm to others while doing religious rites and to respect others’
religious profession, exercise or worship.
7. You have the right to vote unless disqualified by law. You have
the responsibility to vote honestly, orderly and peacefully.
8. You have the right to a separate detention facility or cells,
particularly if you are a woman or a CICL. You have the
responsibility to keep your place of dwelling in pleasant
condition.
9. You have the right to a visit by your immediate family. You have
the responsibility to observe such rules and regulations regarding
jail visitation.
10. You have the right to communicate with your embassy or
consulate if you are a foreigner. You have the responsibility to
keep jail management informed of your transactions.
11.You have the right to refuse any interview or to answer
question/s asked by any member of the media
12. You have the right to be assisted by counsel at all times. You
have the right to be informed of the language known to and
understood by you, of your rights to remain silent and to have
competent and independent counsel, preferably of your own
choice, who shall at all times be allowed to confer with you
privately. If you cannot afford the services of your counsel, you
must be provided with a competent and independent counsel.
13. You have the right to be informed of your right to
demand physical examination by an independent and
competent doctor of your own choice. If you cannot afford
the services of your own doctor, you shall be provided by the
state with a competent and independent doctor to conduct
physical examination if needed. You and your immediate
family shall also have the right to immediate access to proper
and adequate medical treatment.