Rochelle P.

Gablines

Jail Visitation Reflection

My first official visit to jail was on 11 th of November 2019 which completely changed my point
of view towards jail and its rehabilitation. I had many questions in mind like, what awaits those
people who get jailed? Do they live normal lives? What can be done to improve their conditions?

Once settled inside the jail, I interacted with several people of different age, disparate
backgrounds, and different life experiences. They were all serving short sentences or awaiting
trial. It is noteworthy to mention that the Dipolog City Jail offered the best facilities for the
detainee’s rehabilitation. They also provide recreational activities for their inmates to elude from
an unproductive day. I admire how each of the detainees has manifested and developed a faithful
devotion towards religion. I rigorously paid attention to every detail my client has to say about
her conviction and how she feels being confined inside the jail. For a span of hours, I feel like a
real life lawyer for a while. It was very different from anything that the television portrays – the
prison officers and detainees were so reasonable and respectful that it exceeded my gloomy
outlook towards the inmates. My client in her youthful age was convicted for being culpable for
Carnapping. She was soon to be a mother of two (2) and was currently pregnant with her second
son. Considering her current state, detained, deprived of liberty and away from her family during
this holiday season, a pang of sympathy engulfs me as she uncovers a heartfelt sob. To alleviate
her sadness, I tried to explain to her in a very convincing manner, the nature of her conviction
and encourage to settle the case through amicable settlement which an idea she was inclined to
engage into.

It was quite a day of reflection about the applicability of the criminal justice system and a laconic
probe about current state of rehabilitation of the detainees. As a law student, the actual jail
visitation simulation itself help us bolster and illuminate our purpose in pursuing the legal
profession. Our first jail visitation has come to its good end. We exchange our warmest farewells
to our client-detainee and bid our holiday wishes, that maybe one day, in a normal setting, she
could soon happily spend her time outside the premises of prison and be reunited with her
beloved family.