What has been done:
2024 marks the fourth year of our Community Bail Bond Program. Much has been gleaned in terms of numerous challenged faced by our criminal justice system. In particular, the various modes of early release that persons deprived of liberty can avail of is proving to be difficult for PDL and their families. Much still needs to be done and we at PRESO, Inc. shall continue with our mission to help those deserving PDL to obtain release and become productive members of their communities. For our CBB Program in particular, we continue to provide low criminogenic risk PDL with an avenue for early release. Our Program Field Officers continued with their regular activities that included conducting weekly monitoring/home visits of successfully released participants, providing guidance and updating the steps they are taking towards becoming productive members of their communities.
Aside from the weekly monitoring of our released Participants, our Program Field Officers likewise were unfailing in conducting initial home and barangay visits for applicants, coordinating with barangay officials & PAO lawyers, and the processing of bail for CBB Applicants.
Five of our CBB Participants had scheduled hearings for the period covered. Only one hearing pushed through while the other four were postponed/reset for various reasons.
For this period, we were able to successfully release 2 CBB Participants from detention. One was released through bail and another was acquitted of charges. They join the 157 other CBB Participants that have been released, all of whom we are assisting towards community reintegration.
For the period covered our Program Field Officers attended regular service providers meetings at selected NCR Jails.
Our PRESO, Inc. Executive Director, Ms. Tess Gomez, together with our CBB Supervising Program Officer, Mr. Derek Santos, met with Jail Superintendent Christopher Penilla to discuss an integrated possible pre- and post-release program for Rizal Province.
Ms. Tess Gomez likewise represented PRESO, Inc. during an assessment workshop by El Proveedores Foundation. She likewise joined our Program Field Officers during a dialogue with the Manila City Jail Male Dorm Visitors Association.
As of February 2, there have been 431 individuals referred to our program coming from 18 jail facilities, 7 police stations, 3 youth centers, and 3 correctional facilities. Of this number 218 had been interviewed. Of the interviewed, 108 had been successfully bailed out while another 51 had been released through other legal means.
More significantly, we have a total of 41 CBB Participants who have successfully graduated from the CBB Program. We consider participants as having successfully graduated from the Program after their cases have been closed, and at least another six months of monitoring have elapsed. Throughout this period, they must have shown to be responsible members of their community and can lead productive lives.
With their release, the government has now saved Php 3,115,420.00. This is computed by adding the amount budgeted per day (PhP70 for food) per PDL multiplied by the number of days since the day of the release from jail of every individual Participant. These savings will increase as days go by and as long as their cases are not terminated. For those whose cases are dismissed, served early or whose probation was approved, we expect a savings of least 60 days of non-incarceration.
Additionally, on top of the food savings by the government, these individuals are now back to the community and actively engaged in their livelihood- hence contributing to the economy. We minimized their exposure to the criminogenic jail environment leading to better reentry to the society as responsible members.
As we forge ahead with our Community Bail Bond Program, we continue to learn and re-learn approaches and procedures. And this is a welcome experience for us. We envision that more PDLs and CICLs would be assisted soon with their liberties restored, their dignity regained and that their lives are eventually rebuilt. We as a community have a significant role in all these. In the long run, support for our prisons and prisoners as a whole would benefit all of society in terms of lower rates of recidivism and increased sense of public safety. GOD IS ON OUR SIDE!
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