Inmates convicted of drug offenses (RA 9165) are required to undergo Drug Dependency Evaluation prior to being released. The intended purpose is to determine their level of drug dependency (mild, moderate, severe) so appropriate treatment and supervision plan will be put in place upon release. The problem: it is for a fee. The Persons Deprived of Liberty should shoulder the cost of the evaluation. It ranges from PhP 750 to PhP 1500 depending on the jurisdiction, an amount most PDLs and their families cannot afford. Most PDLs have already served their maximum imposable penalty, but without the DDEs, they cannot be released. This is despite the Office of the Court Administrator's Circular that PDLs who had served their maximum imposable penalties should be automatically released by the jail wardens even without a court order from the judges. Worse: the DDE is conducted at the very end of the PDLs journey in the criminal justice system. The DDE is conducted when the PDLs have been detained for so long (usually two years) when they pleaded guilty just so they can avail of early release programs. The DDEs to be effective must be done immediately upon arrest and commitment to the jails. Conducting a DDE in the jail therefore presumes that the PDLs are actively using drugs while in the facility.
Worst: The DDE has become a money making scheme for the evaluators. Most of the PDLs are simply interviewed and no drug tests are conducted thus almost 98 percent eventually turn up "mild" in the assessment reports which basically makes the DDE practically useless. The DDE is simply a waste of time and resources designed to make some money for enterprising doctors.
Solution:
To make the DDE effective, it should be conducted at the very beginning of the journey of the PDLs, that is immediately upon arrest and detention. Those who are considered mild and moderate should be automatically released, and those who are severe should be placed in intensive drug treatment facilities. They should not be put in jail. The DDE should also be made free. And those who already served their maximum imposable penalties should be released even without the DDEs. Please share to all concerned. Photos courtesy of Manila City Jail Male Dormitory
Comments