BUREAU OF

CORRECTION
The BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS is an agency under the
Department of Justice that is charged with custody and
rehabilitation of national offenders, that is, those sentenced to
serve a term of imprisonment of more than three (3) years.
MANDATE and FUNCTIONS
To carry out its mandate, the Bureau undertakes the following:
• Confine persons convicted by the courts to serve a sentence in national
prisons.
• Keep prisoners from committing crimes while in custody.
• Provide humane treatment by supplying the inmates’ basic needs and
implementing a variety of rehabilitation programs designed to change
their pattern of criminal or anti-social behavior.
• Engage in agro-industrial projects for the purpose of developing prison
lands and resources into productive bases or profit centers, developing
and employing inmate manpower skills and labor, providing prisoners
with a source of income and augmenting the Bureau’s yearly
appropriations
 MISSION
Effective safekeeping and rehabilitation of national prisoners

VISION

Improved national prisons conducive to the reformation

and rehabilitation of inmates that will bring them back
into the mainstream of society as useful citizens of the
country.
ORGANIZATION AND KEY POSITION OF THE BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS
The agency has seven (7) operating units nationwide:

1. The New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa

2. The Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City
3. Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
4. Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro
5. San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City
6. Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte
7. Davao Prison and Penal Farm In Panabo, Davao Province
Courts and Entities authorized to commit a person to
prison and jails

• Supreme court
• Court of appeals
• Regional trial court
• Metropolitan/ Municipal trial court
• Municipal Circuit Trial court
• Board of Transportation
• Deportation board
• Commission on Election
• National Prosecution Service
• Police authorities
• All other administrative bodies as may be
authorized by law
GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE TYPICAL
ADMISSION PROCESS AND
PROCEDURES FOR PDLS IN BUCOR:
Arrest and Legal Proceedings:
• The process begins when law enforcement agencies, such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) or
other relevant authorities, arrest individuals suspected of committing crimes.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing:

• PDLs go through the Philippine legal system, which includes court proceedings to determine their guilt
or innocence. If convicted, PDLs receive their sentences, which specify the duration and nature of their
confinement.

Transfer to BuCor Facility:

• Once sentenced, PDLs may be transferred to a BuCor facility, which could be one of the national
penitentiaries or correctional centers.
 BuCor Facility Admission:
• Upon arrival at the BuCor facility, PDLs go through an admission process, which includes the
following steps:

 Verification of Identity:
• BuCor staff verify the PDLs' identities using their personal information, fingerprints, and
photographs.

 Search and Inventory:

• Personal belongings are inventoried and secured. Items that are not allowed within the facility are
confiscated.

 Medical Assessment:
• PDLs undergo a medical assessment to identify any health issues or medical conditions that
require immediate attention. They are separated based on gender and health status.
•
 Classification:
•PDLs are classified based on factors such as the nature of their offense, security risks, and
behavior. This classification helps determine their housing arrangement within the BuCor facility.

 Orientation:
•PDLs receive an orientation about the facility's rules, regulations, and daily routines.

 Security Measures:
•BuCor facilities have various security measures in place, including surveillance cameras,
regular patrolling by prison officers, and restricted access to certain areas.

 Legal Rights:
•DLs are informed of their legal rights, including the right to legal representation, the right to
remain silent, and the right to due process.
 Visitation:
•PDLs are typically allowed visits from their family members and legal counsel. Visitors need
to follow specific visitation rules and schedules, which may vary depending on the BuCor facility's
policies.

 Rehabilitation Programs:
•BuCor provides various rehabilitation programs, vocational training, and educational
opportunities to PDLs to aid in their reintegration into society.

 Court Proceedings:
•PDLs have the right to attend court hearings related to their case. BuCor authorities coordinate
with the court to ensure their presence during legal proceedings.
PURPOSE OF CONFINEMENT- A person is committed to prison or jail

a) to segregate him from society; and

b) to rehabilitate him so that upon his return to society he shall be a responsible and law-Abiding citizen

 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 sentence inside the premises
of the national penitentiary.

 Reformation - the rehabilitation component of the BuCor's present corrections 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 to the mainstream society.
ADMISSION OF NEWLY COMMITTED PDL’S AT THE
BUCOR
Directorate for Reception and Diagnostics (Formerly Reception
and Diagnostic Center)

This is a special unit of prison (Camp Sampaguita) where new PDLs

undergo diagnostic examination, study and observation for the purpose of
determining the programs of treatment and training best suited to their
needs for a total period of 60 days and the institution to which they should
be transferred. The newly committed PDL undergo the necessary test
examination, etc before finally transferred to the operating institutions.
a. Admission of Prisoners. The BuCor through its penal establishments, shall receive
prisoners from competent authority upon presentation of the following documents:

Mittimus/Commitment Order of the Court,

 Information and Court Decision in the case,
Certification of Detention,
Certification of No Pending Case,
Certification of Non-Appeal and
Provincial Form 35/Inmate data sheet

b. A female offender shall be received only at the Correctional Institution for Women

c. All prisons and penal farms are also authorized to receive directly from courts
convicted prisoners in consonance with the Supreme Court Circular No. 63-97 dated
October 6, 1997
Registration Book - A prison shall keep a bound registration book wherein all commitments
shall be recorded chronologically.
The register shall contain the following entries:
a. Name of the PDL:
b. Reason for commitment and the authority thereof;
c. Sentence;
d. Date and hour of admission; and
e. Date and hour of discharge or transfer and basis thereof

Admission process - After registration, the inmate shall be photographed, front and side view,
fingerprinted and assigned a permanent prison number. The male inmate shall then be given a
regulation haircut and his beard/mustache, if any, shall be shaven off Place for admission -
• The admission of an inmate shall be made in an area that is physically separated from the
general prison population
Admission procedure: (RA 10575, IRR)
1. Receiving - the new prisoner is received at the DRD. The new prisoner 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 the National Prison.

2. Checking of Commitment Papers - the receiving officer checks the commitment papers
if they are in order. That is, if they contain the signature of the judge or the signature of the
clerk of court, and the seal of the court.

3. Identification/Booking - the Prisoner's identity is established through the picture and

fingerprint appearing in the commitment orderThis is to ensure that the person being
committed is the same as the person being named in the commitment order
4.Searching/Shakedown-this step involves the frisking of the prisoner and searching his personal
things. Weapons and other items classified as contraband are confiscated and deposited to the
property custodian. Other properties are deposited with the trust fund officer under recording and
receipts:

Pat-patting of subjects clothing

Rub-patting of body over the clothing including the groin, buttocks, and breast
Strip-naked search
Body Cavity Search - expose body cavities like Anus and Vagina to look for contraband

5.Briefing and Orientation - the prisoner will be brief and oriented on the rules and regulations
of the prison before he will be assigned to the DRD of the Quarantine Unit

6.Issuance of Clothes and Equipment - from the receiving office the new prisoner goes to the
supply room where he receives his prison uniform, mosquito net, and bedding.
7.Assignment to Quarters - after the prisoner is issued his clothing's and beddings sent to
the quarantine unit. The quarantine may be a unit of the prison or a section Reception Center,
he is of the Body search of inmate; personal effects.
Upon admission, the inmate shall be searched thoroughly. He shall be allowed to retain
in his possession only such articles as are authorized hereunder. A list of all articles taken
from the inmate shall be entered in the inmate's record and receipted for by the guard in
charge thereof . All articles taken from the inmate shall be return to him upon his discharge
unless previously disposed of at the inmate's request or ordered condemned by the
Superintendent after a lapsed of two (2) years
Hairpieces - An inmate may not wear a wig or artificial hairpiece, unless medical authorization to do so is
approved by the Superintendent

Confiscation of contraband - Narcotics and all other prohibited drugs or substances, as well as weapons of
any kind, substances or chemicals that may cause bodily harm, and any other items or articles that a PDL is
not permitted to possess under prison ruleswill be considered contraband and confiscated accordingly.

Issuance of uniforms etc.

The newly-admitted inmate shall be issued two (2) regulation uniforms/suits and two (2) t-shirts Whenever practicable,
he shall also be issued the following items:

• a. One (1) blanket;

• b. One (1) mat;
• c. One (1) pillow with pillow case;
• d. One (1) mosquito net;
• e. One (1) set, mess kit; and
• f. One (1) pair slippers
Personal effects of 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 quantity, 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 fans and similar items provided the same is for common use with other
inmates.
• In no case shall an inmate be allowed to bring in luxurious items such as air conditioners, carpets, sofas, beds,
sleeping mattresses washing machines and the like.

Wearing of jewelry- An inmate may not wear any jewelry items. He may, however, be allowed an
inexpensive watch.

Inmate Record
•The RDC shall keep a complete record of an inmate which shall include the inmate's personal
circumstances; a brief personal, social and occupational history; the result of the intake interview; and initial
security classification.
 •Prison Record-information concerning an inmate's personal circumstances, the offense he
committed, the sentence imposed, the criminal case numbers in the trial and appellate courts, the date
he commenced service for sentence, the date he was received for confinement, the date of expiration of
his sentence, the number of previous convictions, if any, and his behavior or conduct while in prison.

•Carpeta (also known as the inmate record or jacket) - Institutional record of an inmate which
includes the mittimus/commitment order, the prosecutor's information and the decision of the trial
court, including that of the appellate court.