A Case Analysis on Therapeutic Community Modality Program at Mountain Province District

✓Executive Summary

Mountain Province District Jail scheduled Therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP) during
Mondays but occasionally hold the program as scheduled due to some factors. Inmates and BJMP
personnel consider TCMP as effective and helpful to inmates in their adjustment from the free world to
spending time inside the jail. TCMP is also considered as an avenue of learning and an opportunity of
self expression. Alternatives need to be considered to ensure the effectiveness of TCMP and activities
are needed to strengthen the relationship of inmates and BJMP personnel.

✓Introduction

Therapeutic Community (TC) Program, as defined by Bureau of Corrections, represents an effective,

highly structured environment with defined boundaries, both moral and ethical. The primary goal is to
foster personal growth. This is accomplished by reshaping an individual’s behavior and attitudes through
the inmates’ community working together to help themselves and each other, restoring self confidence,
and preparing them for the re-integration into their families and friends as productive members of the
community.

The Philippine prison system adopted two approaches for treatment of offenders. These are the
institutional-based treatment program and the community based treatment programs. These programs
aimed towards the improvement of offenders’ attitude and philosophy of life. Reformation and
rehabilitation of inmates as well as preparation for there integration in the community are the ultimate
goals of the programs.

Most important for a prisoner is to have a will to change himself and then giving him support to
improve. Many of them do not know how to start a new life such therapeutic community programs are
the way, and they can enlighten their future life(www.howtodothings.com). The Bureau of Jail
Management and Penology (BJMP) has adopted Therapeutic Community Modality Program or TCMP as
a new approach to inmate management that requires new glossary of terms relative to felons and
introduction of a new way of life in confinement.

First, it defines “therapeutic community” as a unique self -help, albeit, bona fidesocial psychological
approach to the treatment of addictions and related problems. The term “therapeutic” denotes the
social and psychological goals of TCs, namely changing the individual's life style and identity. The term
“community” denotes the primary method or approach, employed to achieve the goal of individual
change. The community is used to heal, teach, and train individuals in how to behave, think, perceive
and experience themselves.

Second, it identifies the essential elements of the TC approach as the collection of concepts, beliefs,
assumptions, program components, and clinical and educational practices common to TC programs. The
"essentiality" of these elements is derived from multiple sources: the author's own observations and
research of TC programs over some25 years, the manuals of many contemporary TC programs, and the
conceptual and historical literature of both addiction and psychiatric therapeutic communities.

Third, the essential elements organized into a single framework consist of three components: the
perspective, model, and method. The perspective depicts how the TC views the substance abuse
disorder, the individual substance abuser, the recovery process, and right living. The model presents
what the TC is as a treatment program: its structure, social organization, and daily regimen of activities,
all of which are grounded in the perspective. It distinguishes the unique, self-help element of its approac

community as method, in which individuals are taught to use the peer community to learn about
themselves. Thus, all activities in the TC are interventions designed to produce therapeutic and
educational changes in individual participants, and all participants are them ediators of these changes.

Fourth, it relates the three main components of the framework—perspective, model, and method—to
the process of change. All the elements of the TC are intended to facilitate individual changes in lifestyle
and identity. How these changes unfold reflects the individual's interaction with community and the
internalization of its teachings. One important issue, when working to improve outcomes for the
offender population, is the effectiveness of treatment when the treatment is mandated. The consensus
and expert panels for the TIP Series recognize the potential impact of the level of coercion on treatment
retention and completion (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2005).It is then important that the
therapeutic community modality program is held every schedule, with the supervision of a competent
and well trained facilitator, to comfort the inmates as well as to prepare them in going back to the
community

✓Body

Mountain Province District Jail (MPDJ)

has been awarded “Best District Jail” for

the year 2015 based on its accomplishments and the support of the community in terms of the
programs extended to the correctional facility and the donations on food. Like all other jails, MPDJ is
implementing intervention programs, development programs, and rehabilitation programs to inmates
and detainees. One of the most essential programs they strictly implement is the Therapeutic
Community ModalityProgram.Mountain Province District Jail Houses 42 inmates, among which are five
inmates serving their sentence and thirty seven detainees who are still awaiting trial. The sexprofile as of
March 10, 2016 is that one female detainee is housed in the jail while forty-one are males.

✓Problems/Key Issues

 Three days off, three-days duty-Duty detail affects the implementation of TC

 Inconsistency of punishment
 Difficulty in addressing different issues
 Cultural difference as a factor in settling misunderstanding

✓Assumptions

Duty detail is arranged to ensure that the BJMP personnel assigned to facilitate the TCMP will conduct
TC every Monday of the week as scheduled to cater to the needs and address issues that will help
promote unity and cooperation among inmates and BJMP personnel.

Consistency of punishment and sanctions given to inmates who violate house rules should be observed
to prevent feuds and to discourage other violations.

Two or three facilitators are needed so that issues can be addressed and inmates are encouraged to
express themselves to attain the objective of TC which is to boost self-confidence.

Proper trainings are also needed by facilitators to be able to address the issues raised by inmates and to
be able to provide inspirations to the inmates, most specifically to those who are to be released soon, to
do well in the community and to desist from recidivism.

✓Data Analysis

Interview was used to gather data needed for the case analysis. BJMP personnel, inmates who resided
longer at the Mountain Province District Jail and inmates who are new to the institution were
interviewed about the effects of TCMP and the problems they encounter during the TC.

✓THE BJMP PERSONNEL PERSPECTIVE ON TCMP

In an interview with JO1 Jalon Ateneo, he said that TCMP is being held at Mountain Province District Jail
every Mondays. “Everybody (inmates) are required to join the TC since that is an opportunity to clarify
issues and the concerns with other inmates and BJMP personnel”, added JO1 Ateneo. He identified the
style on duty detail as a problem in the implementation of the TCMP because if the facilitator is not on
duty, the TC program will not be held as scheduled every Mondays.

JO1 John Pangog relayed the process of the TCMP which always starts with a flag ceremony, invocation
and the announcement of TC philosophy wherein the rationale of the event is discussed for the
participant to understand and appreciate. The activity proper starts with a “pull-up”. This part of TC is
the opening up of negative comments by inmates towards other inmates and BJMP personnel; and
feuds/misunderstandings are cleared out immediately through the “hair -cut” process, thus restoring
order in the camp. Inmates who are found to be guilty of a violation are given a sanction like forfeiture
of a privilege.

“Affirmation” process follows to be conducted in giving constructive comments and compliments. Bible
reading is also done on the “Concept of the day” part of TC. Relaying of news from the global scenarios
to local information regarding sports, weather and politics is done. Entertainment is observed for the
welfare development programs of inmates. Handshake is traditionally conducted to close issues before
singing a community song.
Managing 42 inmates, according to JO1 Joser Corapan, the TC facilitator, is very challenging. He said that
being a facilitator is becoming a role model to inmates. It also

requires patience since some inmates are taking things for granted and that they are joking about what
they talk about in the therapeutic community program.JO1 Corapan said that the difference of inmates
according to belief and practices a factor in bridging gaps since there are some who insist what they like,
who feel too much bravery, who talk too much, who does not want to admit comments, and those who
hold on to their pride.

✓FROM THE DETAINEES’ POINT OF VIEW

The “Emcee”, was given the role of the master of ceremony of the TCMP since his admission at MPDJ
last February. He is a good public speaker with lots of humor. He attended TC only once since his stay at
MPDJ and his realized a lot from the activity. “TC helps me understand who I am,” he said in an
interview. He further added, “If only TC is held weekly or a Monday Program would help.”

The problem on the regular conduct of TCMP is also identified by other residents of MPDJ as a factor in
the implementation of TCMP. It is mentioned in an article posted on alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction-
treatment/therapeutic-community-program/ that a regular community meetings and discussions gives
the members the opportunity to discuss problems and evaluate the behavior of each other.

Mr. Emcee also wondered if it could be suggested that a Trustee Day he can held for inmates to serve
the trustees who are always on call for cooking the food and sanitary obligations and beautification
times.

He also suggested that BJMP personnel on duty and inmate gathering be a part of TC for the purpose of
social bonding to change the negative impressions of inmates against guards and guards against
inmates.

The two college students are also the new residents of Mountain Province District Jail. They are
detainees awaiting trial on charges of attempted murder pressed against them by the victim who is a
police officer.

They attended TCMP once since their stay at MPDJ. College student A said that TC is very helpful for
them, most especially to their adjustment inside the jail. He relayed the story of their first day inside
MPDJ, when they were being led to their cell; most of the inmates are requesting the BJMP personnel to
join the new comers in their cell. College student A said that he was fearful at first but he came to get
along with other inmates. TC is important to the new residents because it is there where they learn lots
of things like livelihood programs and the importance of abiding with the house rules

.On the other hand, College student B admitted that joining TC for the first time made him feel nervous.
He said that they kept quiet during their attendance to TCMP, and they were just observing what others
were doing. They just listen to what was being discussed and do what others do.

Both College student A and B hoped that TCMP will be held regularly since it helps a lot in their
adjustment process. They both agreed that TC help them understand how important humility and
respect are inside the jail.

Other inmates were asked about what TC is all about, what are the effects of TC, what are the problems
they encounter, and if they were able to express their feelings during the TC session, majority of the
inmates relayed positive answers and agreed with the problems identified from interviews with BJMP
personnel and inmates.

✓Conclusion

From the results of interview, Therapeutic Community Modality Program is an avenue of self expression
among inmates; it is considered as an opportunity of learning and a program which promotes peace and
order. However, there are issues which need to be addressed in order to continuously attain its
objectives. These problems are Three days off-three, days duty-Duty detail affects the implementation
of TC; Inconsistency of punishment; Difficulty in addressing different issues; Cultural difference as a
factor insettling misunderstanding.

✓Recommendations

From the honest testimonies of the inmates and BJMP personnel and analysis of data gathered, the
following considerations are recommended:
1. The duty detail will be rearranged according to days and not number of days. Proposed duty detail is
from Monday-Wednesday for the first group; Thursday-Saturday for the second group; Sunday will be
the turnover of duty, meaning all personnel will render their duty on Sundays. For the TCMP to be
conducted every Mondays, the facilitator should belong to the first group.

2. The implementation of sanctions should be made fair and consistent to discourage future violations.
The personnel should come-up with concrete guidelines on the imposition of sanctions with the
corresponding punishments which should be strictly observed.

3. It is strongly recommended that personnel should be given two distinct functions instead of only one.
This is to ensure that all functions are carried out despite the absence of others BJMP personnel in
consideration of the style of the duty detail.

4. Activities that develop and deepen respect to each other is encouraged to be conducted every day in
order to address the problem on cultural differences. Values education, sharing of experiences, team
building activities, friendly competitions can be avenues of learning the behavior of a person in which he
or she may be respected of the qualities that he possesses.