Urgent Appeal to Support the Parole and Probation Administration

The Philippine Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) is in dire need of assistance. With their endless new referrals and congested existing caseloads, the Parole and Probation Officers (PPOs) are absorbing the full weight of the criminal justice system.

PPOs may supervise as many as 500 cases and receive 50 new referrals every week. As such, many PPOs are physically strained and falling ill. They are mentally exhausted. Many PPOs are driven to early retirement, and others are forced to resign from the agency due to the heavy burden—further straining the PPOs left behind. When PPOs suffer from work-related health problems, there are few health support systems in place, forcing other PPOs to help their colleagues out of their own pockets.

The Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) has been the silent agency that has carried the burden of implementing the drug war. With many arrestees, even low-level offenders, placed in detention—leading to jail and prison overcrowding—the Supreme Court created a mechanism of plea bargaining. Many arrestees availed of plea bargaining in drug cases with the hope of being granted probation. While plea bargaining reduced the caseloads for prosecutors, judges, and defense lawyers and helped ease jail congestion, it quintupled the burdens for PPOs. From a manageable caseload of 1:60, it ballooned to 1:300, with some jurisdictions reaching 1:800. Despite this, the agency did not receive any additional personnel. Its budget for operational resources has remained almost the same. And with the number of early retirees and resignations, the number of new recruits cannot cope with the constant influx of new cases.

Despite these challenges, the PPA continues to perform admirably. They institute supervision programs that effectively reduce the security risks posed by their clients. They also implement a myriad of rehabilitation activities to address clients’ drug dependency, lack of employment, and criminal thinking. In fact, their failure rate is less than 2 percent—meaning their clients are effectively reintegrated into the community.

This success in safety and rehabilitation, however, comes at the expense of the PPOs. They work overtime. Many work beyond office hours just to meet their deadlines. Many work even during weekends, sacrificing their family time, just to meet agency-imposed targets. They use their own resources, spending their own money to meet the needs of their clients. As mentioned, this emotional and physical engagement has resulted in debilitating diseases and physical disabilities for the PPOs.

A proposal to modernize and improve the personnel capacity of the PPA has been submitted to Congress. Yet, it has barely moved in the congressional hearings. We are appealing to all our congressional and senate leaders to please take up the cudgels and fight for the PPA.

Additionally, we appeal to all our local government units, especially governors and city mayors, to support the PPA. While many mayors and governors provide assistance to their local jails, not many support their local PPA offices. If they could extend the same assistance to the PPA, it would go a long way toward achieving peace and order in local communities.

Third, the courts can help reduce the burden on the PPA. One of the major functions of the PPA is to investigate cases and determine if the accused, as recommended by the judge, is eligible for probation. PPOs are required to submit a Post-Sentence Investigation Report. This shifts their functions from supervision to investigation. In other jurisdictions, judges can easily determine whether the accused is eligible for probation. Judges typically have faster access to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance results compared to when PPOs make the request. By streamlining this process, the courts can tremendously ease the burden on PPOs.

Finally, the PPA must also modernize its own practices. They need to adopt a risk assessment tool that determines the risks and needs of their clients. This way, they can focus their supervision and rehabilitation programs only on those most in need. Based on the results of a pilot study, no more than 10 percent of PPA clients are high-risk. This suggests that targeted attention can be provided to those who need it most, thereby reducing overall workload. The agency also needs to be open to best practices from other jurisdictions and be evidence-based. While many offices have signed on to new ways of managing PPA caseloads, many PPOs remain afraid of change. They continue to cling to old practices that unfortunately lead to more work.

A more effective and well-supported PPA will go a long way in reducing recidivism and increasing public safety. Additionally, it will lead to savings for the government, as inmates released early will mean less budget required for food and medicines. It will also protect inmates from the criminogenic influences of imprisonment.

Supporting the PPA benefits us all.