INTRODUCTION

      Crimes against persons, such as murder, homicide, parricide, continue to dominate the offense profile, accounts for 50% of the cases of national prisoners.

      17 persons were executed by hanging after world war 2, and 84 thru electric chair from 1924 to 1976. NBP is also the designated facility for death sentenced prisoners, the site of the Lethal Injection Chamber. Following the re-imposition of Death Penalty in 1994, 7 death convicts were so far executed by lethal injection. At present there are more than a thousand death convicts awaiting their execution.

      A majority of inmates confined in national prison did not finish secondary education while nearly 6% never went to school or were illiterate. Only 3% earned a college degree.

      It was felt that the first step in our rehabilitation effort is to provide the basic needs of inmate as human being. The other steps in the rehabilitation process are the provision of work programs, health care, education and skills training, recreation and sports, religious guidance and behavior modification using the therapeutic community approach.

PROGRAMS OF THE BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS

      One of the primordial mandates of the Bureau of Corrections is the effective rehabilitation of prisoners; thus, various programs are in place to address the rehabilitation aspect in corrections.

      The term "rehabilitation" entered the official jargon of corrections in the country in 1955. This was when the Geneva Convention introduced the United Nations Standards on the Treatment of Prisoners to which the country is a signatory. Considered a breakthrough in protecting the rights of the incarcerated or those under the custody of law, rehabilitation has become the principal goal of corrections. Rehabilitation was first applied in medical practice. It came from the Latin word “habilis” -- literally, fit or suitable. Its meaning was expanded to mean “to restore to sound operation” or “to reestablish the good reputation” (Bantam, 1991).

      Rehabilitation in correctional work is done through a combination of programs that involves spiritual activities, educational courses (formal and informal), medical and hygienic practices, cultural and recreational activities, productive work, counseling, therapeutic and disciplinary measures.

      The Bureau of Corrections at present undertakes 6 “faces” of rehabilitation programs in all its prison camps, these rehabilitation programs are as follows:.

      1. Moral and Spiritual Programs
          Develops moral uprightness and a God-centered prison life for total reformation.
      2. Education and Training Programs
          Provides opportunity for qualified inmates to undergo elementary, high school and college education.
          Others are given non-formal education through vocational courses and skills enhancements.
      3. Work and Livelihood Programs
          Enhances productivity and livelihood skills to make them economically prepared.
      4. Sports and Recreation Programs
          Maintains physical fitness through regular sports and recreation activities.
      5. Health and Welfare Programs
          Promotes healthy lifestyle through proper health care and dietary requirements.
      6. Behavior Modification Program
          A behavioral change that develops positive outlook in life and virtuous attitude.

THE PROCESS

      The Reception and Diagnostic Center or RDC, which is the receiving arm of the BuCor admits and classifies national prisoners for a period of 60 days, including a 5-day quarantine period. These national prisoners or Inmates undergo psychiatric, psychological, medical, and other examinations. BuCor’s rehabilitation programs are introduced during this period to include the Therapeutic Community Program, as inmates are being prepared mentally, physically and spiritually, as RDC provides them a vital direction towards a God-centered prison life. Towards the end of the period, diagnostic staffs consolidate and prepare their individual case summary report. Initial Staff Classification is conducted and inmates are classified as: Maximum, Medium or Minimum based on their security status, and are transferred to their respective institutional assignments.

BRINGING BACK THE DIGNITY OF MAN

      It is through meaningful rehabilitation programs that we could bring back the dignity of man. The first step in our rehabilitation effort is to provide the basic needs of inmate as human being. After the basic needs of an inmate are met, the other steps in the rehabilitation process involves the following institutionalized programs comes in. These include the provision of work programs, health care, education and skills training, recreation and sports, and religious guidance and behavior modification using the therapeutic community approach.