Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY

Juco Building, 144 Mindanao Avenue, Project 8, Quezon City

Trunklines: (+632) 927-6383; 453-1196

Email Address: director@bjmp.gov.ph Website: www.bjmp.gov.ph

10 December 2010
Date

BJMP NHQ
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
NUMBER 2010 - 11

CONDUCT OF INTERFAITH/RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

INSIDE BJMP JAILS

I. REFERENCES

1. Memorandum from the SILG dated January 22, 2010 re: Activation of the Directorate
for Inmates Welfare and Development, Directorate for Intelligence and Directorate for
Investigation and Prosecution ofthe BJMP;
2. U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners;
3. The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines;
4. "Prisoner Reentry, Religion and Research" (http://peerta.acg.hhs.gov/pdf/
prisoner_rentry.pdf, accessed on March 16,2010);
5. BJMP Revised Manual 2007; and
6. Guidelines and Policies for the Service Providers. National Capital Region Chaplaincy
Service. BJMP.

II. BACKGROUND/RATIONALE

Since the beginning of prisons and jails, religion has influenced philosophies of
punishment and rehabilitation. Whether motivated by religious beliefs or a sense of civic
duty, "the church" has helped direct the course of modern corrections. For more than a
century, the church has been relied upon to provide spiritual guidance and support to
prisoners. The church has also provided, and continues to provide, a Wide-range of
secular services to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families. Traditionally, these services
include the provision of food, shelter and clothing. Other services involve education,
employment, and housing assistance. Still other services include crime prevention,
substance abuse counselling and treatment, and victim assistance in communities across
the nation.

In the Philippines, there has been a resurgence of religion in our jails over the years.
As a result, increasingly diverse faith practices have entered jail settings, and the numbers

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 of religious services and activities have increased. Today, a variety of faiths are practiced
in jail facilities and there is wide variance among types of religious program services.
Due to limited space and resources in jails, it is therefore imperative that these
services should be regulated so that every inmate will be given equal opportunity to
exercise and enjoy their religious beliefs which should be in accordance with the U.N.
Minimum Standard for the Treatment of Prisoners (Rules 41-42) and Section 5, Article III
of the Philippine Constitution which states that: "No law shall be made respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and
enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination of preference, shall
forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political
rights."

III. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This policy aims to provide the general guidelines in the conduct of

religious/interfaith activities inside the facilities under the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology (BJMP).

IV. OBJECTIVES

1. To provide guidelines in the conduct of interfaith/religious activities inside BJMP

controlled Jails.
2. To promote a standard geared towards the formation of values among inmates
aimed to bring about positive transformation of the individual.
3. To provide an environment of cooperation, coordination and harmonious
relationship between and/or among personnel, participants and service providers
involved in religious activities;
4. To provide a mechanism in settling differences or grievances in relation to religious
activities inside BJMP jails.

V. DEFINITION OF TERMS

JAll- is a place of confinement for city and municipal prisoners, any fugitive from justice,
or person detained awaiting or undergoing investigation or trial and/or transfer to the
National Penitentiary, and/or violent mentally-ill person who endangers him/herself or
the safety of others, duly certified as such by the proper medical or health officer, pending
transfer to a mental institution.

RELIGION - a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe,
especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually
involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing
the conduct of human affairs.

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 INTERFAITH - of, operating, or occurring between persons belonging to different
religions.

RELIGIOUS SERVICE PROVIDER - an entity offering religious services for the

benefit/development of an inmate.

VI. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1. Inmates are entitled to practice his/her religious beliefs and moral precepts.
2. Respect for religion must always be taken into account, hence, inmates and personnel
should not be forced to take part in any religious activities contrary to their individual
religious beliefs.
3. There shall be no discrimination on grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion,
political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

VII. GUIDEI.INES FOR THE CONDUCT OF INTERFAITH/RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

General Guidelines
1. All existing jail policies, rules and regulations concerning security systems and
procedures, and policies in the conduct of activities inside BJMP facilities must be
strictly followed.
2. It is the primary responsibility of the Warden to supervise the orderly conduct and
implementation and observance of this policy.

A. For Religious Service Providers

1. The Religious Service Provider shall submit quarterly Plan of Actions to the Warden,
Attn: Unit IWOO for evaluation and to avoid conflict of schedules. It shall be properly
endorsed to and duly approved by the Jail Warden.
2. Religious Service Providers are encouraged to conduct religious activities to inmates
belonging to their church denomination. For security purposes and to maintain order,
they shall only be conducted in designated areas as approved by the Jail Warden. A
list of the religious denominations of the inmates should be made available. The Unit
IWOO shall be responsible in producing this list.
3. Religious Service Providers are not allowed to malign /attack other religious belief
while conducting religious activities. It is recommended that they shall only teach
their respective members on their ministries doctrines without any negative reference
to the religious beliefs of other religions. Mutual respect for one's belief must always
be observed.
4. Activities conducted by religious service providers shall be incorporated in the
schedule of activities of the inmates. These religious activities should be conducted in
a manner that will not disrupt other jail activities.

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 5. All Service Providers should attend the regular meeting of the Religious Service
Providers to discuss issues and concerns regarding their activities and other reminders
from the wardens or higher authorities.
6. All the presidents or representative of the jails religious service providers are
encouraged to attend the meeting of the Regional Federation to synchronize the
regional activities and discuss regional policies and concerns.
7. All Service Providers belonging to the same traditions or faith (Catholic, Born Again,
Muslims, etc.) are encouraged to organize among themselves for coordination and
synchronization purposes.
8. All Service Providers are encouraged to provide feedbacks, suggestions and
recommendations for the purpose of enhancing the management and services of
BJMP to the inmates.
9. All Service Providers are encouraged to refrain from dole out interventions except for
emergency cases. Instead, transformative and developmental faith interventions
must be given importance.

8. For Inmates

1. BJMP encourages inmates to attend only the activities of the religious group where
they belong. Inmates, however, are -not prevented from joining other religious
activities or other activities inside the jail provided they: (a) finish first the religious
activity they are currently engaged to; and (b) attendance in other religious activities
should not be made as an excuse from participating in other non religious activities
and doing his assigned tasked
2. Inmates shall not malign other religious group or belief.
3. Inmates shall not distract! interrupt or cause to distract/interact the conduct of
religious activities belonging to other faith or denomination.

C. For Personnel

1. There should be proper scheduling of the religious activities to prevent conflict and to
assure that each of the service providers is given enough time and place for them to
conduct their activity.
2. Regional IWD Chief together with Chaplaincy Service shall call a quarterly meeting
with all Service Providers to discuss and provide possible solutions on issues affecting
them.
3. The Jail Warden, for security reasons or as deemed necessary, may discontinue any
religious activity.

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VIII. REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCREDITATION OF RELIGIOUS SERVICE PROVIDER (Please refer to
FLOW CHART A)

Prior to the Service Providers conduct of any religious activity inside the jail facility,
it should be duly accredited by the Inmates Welfare and Development Division of the
Regional Office where the jail is located. The accreditation should be endorsed by Chiefs
of the Regional Intelligence Division and the Regional Chaplaincy Service and should be
accompanied by the following:

1. letter of Intent to serve the jail signed by the Pastors or Head of the organization.
2. SEC Registration of the Service Providers or Certificate of Accommodation of a SEC
Registered Organization.
3. Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
a. The MOA shall be prepared and reviewed by the legal Service of the Region in
coordination with the Regional Inmates Welfare Division, Regional Chaplaincy
Service and the Religious Service Provider.
b. The MOA shall state, among others, the services to be rendered, jails to be
served, time it shall render the services as well as the conditions to be followed
and the program they have to engage in. Any violation of the agreement could
be a sufficient ground to rescind the MOA.
c. For Religious Service Providers that will render services to more than one jail, it
shall enter a MOA with the Regional Director. For those that will serve only
one jail, it shall enter a MOA with the Warden.
4. list of Volunteers - each with 4 pes. 2x2 ID pictures (for the Gaters, IWD Office/CHS
Office and Personal ID). The IDs shall be initialled by Chief of the Regional Intelligence
Division and signed by the Regional Director.

IX. MONITORING

1. The IWDO shall monitor, every now and then, the different religious service providers
during the conduct of their activities inside to see to it that the terms and conditions
of the MOA and the provisions set forth in this policy are complied with.
2. The Jail Warden shall submit a report to the Regional Director (Attention: Inmates
Welfare and Development Division), copy furnished Chief Chaplain of the Region, of
the religious activities conducted in their jail. In turn, the Regional Director shall duly
accomplish DIWD form G (Annex A) and submit it to the National Headquarters
(Attention: Directorate for Inmates Welfare and Development) not later than the 5th
day of the succeeding month.

x. SPECIAL PROVISION:

In the event that a conflict arises between and among the service providers,
personnel or inmates in relation to the implementation of the policy or in the rendition
of religious and other related services, the Warden shall exert efforts to mediate the

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 conflict or use other modes of dispute resolution to settle the same in accordance with
the provisions of R.A. 9285.

XI. PENALTY CLAUSE

Failure to observe this policy or any violation thereof shall be subject to

Disciplinary Actions:

A. Religious Service Providers

~ Will be subject to the stipulations in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
to be reviewed by the Regional Legal Service in coordination with the
Regional Inmates Welfare Division and Regional Chaplaincy Service.

B. Inmates
~ Will be subject to BOOK II, CHAPTER I, RULE 11- Reception Procedure,
Classification and Disciplinary Boards and Punishable Acts of Inmates of the
BJMP Manual.

C. Personnel
~ Will be subject to BOOK I, CHAPTER 111- Administrative Disciplinary Machinery
of the BJMP Manual.

XII. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE

In the event that any provision or part of the policy be declared unauthorized or
rendered invalid by a competent authority, those provisions not affected by such
declaration shall remain valid and effective.

XIII. REPEALING CLAUSE

All other existing issuances which are inconsistent with this policy are hereby
rescinded or modified accordingly.

XIV. EFFECTIVITY

This policy takes effect immediately.

ROSE 0 ESO III

Jail Director (DSC)
Chief, BJMP

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 FLOWCHART A

ACCREDITATION OF RELIGIOUS SERVICE PROVIDER

Religious service Issuance of IDs / Certificate of

Provider Accreditation (with validity date)

~I, __I~
1. Letter of Intent to
Serve.
2. SEC Registration or
Certificate
Accommodation of a
SEC
of

Registered
l.--I ~esionallWDD ~
Relional
Director
Organization.

3. Ust of Volunteers
Review / Verification D~ \.V
Preparation/Finalization of MOA("
If more than l)all, ROto
,'sign MOA

(with 4 pes. of 2x2

pictures each). I "" If only 1 jail, Warden to
4. Other supporting slgnMOA
Rellonal Resional Reslonal
documents.
Intellilenee Chaplaincy Legal
Division service Service
 I ANNEX A

DIWDFORM:G

Republic of the Philippines

Department of the Interior and Local Government
BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PrNOLOGY
Address:, _
Month_ ye _

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G. MONTHLY REPORT ON INTERFAITH Acnvlnes

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