2020 has proven to be one of the most challenging years for our nation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. We at PRESO, Inc., as well as all those involved in prison ministry were not spared of the trials, pain and difficulties brought about by this unforeseen challenge.
We began the year with the resolve of continuing our advocacy to provide paralegal education and assistance to jail and prisons facilities. We were also focusing our attention on supporting the pilot implementation of the Classification, Risk Assessment and Case Management Program (CRACMP) at Manila City Jail Male Dorm as we believed that this is essential in the BJMP’s march towards a human-rights based approach to jail management.
The second quarter of 2020 put these plans on hold as the pandemic raged. Fearing that the virus would lead to horrific losses of lives and resources should it make its way into our overcrowded jail and prison facilities where social distancing and other precautions would be impossible to implement, we sought to find ways and means to enable our Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) who are bailable, low risk, no jail violations more importantly those who are overstaying, with meritorious cases and special needs, to be released from detention sooner rather than later.
Thus was born the Community Bail Bond Program which quickly became our flagship project for the entire 2020.
Through our CBB Program, we were able to obtain the release of 40 PDL from various NCR jails, CICL Bahay Pag-Asa and police stations through the posting of bail, release on recognizance, probation, and dismissal of cases through plea bargaining. We spent a total of PhP 524,000.00 on bail cash bonds alone for 20 PDL. The tasks didn’t stop here. We need to monitor these PDL and their families thru home visits and phone calls to see to it that they attend all their scheduled hearings and even provide counseling to prevent them from committing another felony while on bail.
We partnered with IDEALS, Inc., El Proveedores Foundation, Juvenile Justice Welfare Council, and the Parole and Probation Administration in order to arrive at a holistic approach in providing paralegal and post-release intervention programs for PDL and CICL.
The CBB program has also helped the government saved PhP 303,100.00. This is computed by adding the amount budgeted per day (PhP70 for food) multiplied by the number of days since the day of the release from jail of every individual Participant. 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.
More importantly, we reduced jail crowding which is one of the major issues faced by our correctional facilities, especially in the time of the COVID19 pandemic.
Finally, we minimized their exposure to the criminogenic jail environment leading to better reentry to the society as responsible members.
Beyond the CBB Program, we were also able to continue with our other advocacies despite the pandemic. We developed position papers, maintained our social media presence and conducted online trainings for jail personnel & other stakeholders in the criminal justice system.
Despite limited resources, we were also able to coordinate with other NGOs and volunteers for much needed crisis intervention needed by jail facilities due to the pandemic and the wrath of Typhoon Ulysses.
Amidst the uncertainties and anxiety that the year brought, our PRESO workers, because of their resolve to promote justice thru releases of PDL and early disposition of their cases, strived hard to cope and learn. They encountered all sorts of challenges due to the lockdown, i.e. the risk of infection, little mobility, inadequate transport, limited court and jail personnel, protocols, delays in communications and securing of documents, dealing with criminal justice stakeholders and time & funding constraints including the limited knowledge in some areas of the bail bond process.
BUT… it is the JOURNEY that also matters,
not only the outcome.
WE ALL MUST CONTINUE in 2021…
to support the Community Bail Bond Program and all forms of Paralegal Assistance
Thru:
FUND SOURCING AND CAPABILITY BUILDING
OF WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS.
THANKS BE TO GOD!
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