INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS

Community-Based Corrections refers to non-institutional methods of supervising and rehabilitating offenders within the
community, rather than in traditional prison facilities.

 Focuses on rehabilitation, reintegration, and public safety.

 Supervision is done while offenders remain in society under specific conditions.

Purpose

1. Reduce prison overcrowding by providing alternatives to incarceration.

2. Rehabilitate offenders through community resources and programs.

3. Promote reintegration into society to reduce recidivism.

4. Save government costs compared to institutional imprisonment.

5. Engage the community in the correctional process.

Legal Basis in the Philippines

 Probation Law of 1976 (Presidential Decree No. 968) – established the probation system.

 RA 10707 – amended the Probation Law to make it more accessible.

 RA 10575 – strengthening the Bureau of Corrections.

 Other laws on parole, pardon, and community service as penalties.

Types of Community-Based Correction Programs

1. Probation – Suspension of sentence with supervised freedom.

2. Parole – Conditional release after serving part of the sentence.

3. Pardon – Executive forgiveness, may be conditional or absolute.

4. Community Service – Offender performs work benefiting the community instead of imprisonment.

5. Restorative Justice Programs – Focus on reconciliation between offender and victim.

6. Halfway Houses – Transitional facilities for reintegration.

Advantages

 Less expensive than incarceration.

 Reduces prison congestion.

 Allows offenders to keep jobs and family ties.

 Encourages rehabilitation through real-world accountability.

 Promotes public safety through monitored reintegration.

Disadvantages / Challenges

 Risk of non-compliance by offenders.

 Possible public perception of being “soft on crime.”

 Requires effective monitoring and sufficient resources.

 Not suitable for high-risk offenders.

Role of the Community

 Provide employment opportunities for offenders.

 Offer counseling and mentorship.

 Participate in restorative justice dialogues.

 Support social reintegration programs.

Community-Based Corrections is not about letting offenders “go free,” but about giving them the chance to reform in a
structured, supervised environment that benefits both the offender and society.
It works best when law enforcement, the justice system, and the community collaborate to ensure rehabilitation,
safety, and justice.

Agencies of the Government Tasked to Provide Community-Based Corrections and Their Functions
Community-based corrections refers to programs and services for offenders that are carried out within the community
instead of inside traditional prison facilities. These aim to rehabilitate offenders, prevent recidivism, and promote
reintegration into society while ensuring public safety.
In the Philippines, community-based corrections is primarily handled by government agencies that operate under the
principle of rehabilitation over retribution.

Agencies and Their Functions

1. Parole and Probation Administration (PPA)

 Legal Basis: Presidential Decree No. 968 (Probation Law of 1976), as amended by P.D. No. 1990; Executive Order
No. 292.

 Attached to: Department of Justice (DOJ).

 Primary Functions:

1. Administer the probation system — supervising qualified offenders in the community instead of in
prison.

2. Conduct pre-sentence investigations to help the court decide whether probation is appropriate.

3. Administer the parole system — supervising offenders released under parole conditions.

4. Implement community service programs in lieu of imprisonment for certain offenses (R.A. 11362).

5. Develop and implement rehabilitation programs such as livelihood projects, counseling, and skills
training.

2. Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP)

 Legal Basis: Act No. 4103 (Indeterminate Sentence Law), as amended.

 Attached to: Department of Justice.

 Primary Functions:

1. Evaluate and recommend to the President the grant of executive clemency (pardon, commutation of
sentence).

2. Authorize the release of offenders under parole or conditional pardon.

3. Set the conditions for parole and pardon, and monitor compliance through PPA officers.

4. Cancel parole or pardon if conditions are violated.

3. Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) – Community Extension Programs

 Legal Basis: R.A. 6975, as amended by R.A. 9263 and R.A. 9592.

 Attached to: Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

 Community-Based Function:
While primarily tasked with jail management, BJMP also operates community outreach and aftercare programs
for released persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), in coordination with PPA, LGUs, and NGOs to aid reintegration
and prevent relapse into crime.

4. Local Government Units (LGUs)

 Legal Basis: R.A. 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991).

 Community Corrections Role:

1. Maintain community-based rehabilitation programs for drug offenders in partnership with PDEA, DOH,
and NGOs.

2. Provide aftercare and livelihood assistance for released offenders.

5. Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) & Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – Community Rehabilitation Aspect

 Legal Basis: R.A. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

 Community Corrections Role:

o Oversee and implement community-based drug rehabilitation programs for low-risk and moderate-risk
drug users.

o Coordinate with LGUs, DOH, and NGOs to ensure rehabilitation is accessible at the barangay level.

Table

Agency Legal Basis Main Community-Based Function

PPA P.D. 968, P.D. 1990 Administers probation, parole, and community service programs.

BPP Act 4103 Grants and supervises parole/conditional pardon.

BJMP R.A. 6975 Runs aftercare & reintegration programs.

LGUs R.A. 7160 Implements barangay rehabilitation & livelihood support.

DDB & PDEA R.A. 9165 Manage community-based drug rehab programs.

IV. Conclusion

Community-based corrections in the Philippines is a multi-agency effort led mainly by the PPA and BPP, with vital
support from BJMP, LGUs, DDB, and PDEA.
The focus is on supervision, rehabilitation, and reintegration, which helps reduce prison overcrowding, cut costs, and
increase the chances that offenders become productive members of society.