JAIL MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS & APPLICATIONS (7.

5%)
COMMITMENT AND CLASSIFICATION OF INMATES/PRISONERS/DETAINEES

A person can be committed to jail only upon the issuance of an appropriate order by a competent
court or authority so mandated under Philippine laws. This Rule enumerates courts and authorities,
and classifies inmates according to the conditions for their commitment.

Section 14. COURTS AND OTHER ENTITIES AUTHORIZED TO COMMIT A PERSON

TO JAIL- The following (courts and entities) are authorized to commit a person to jail:

a. Supreme Court;
b. Court of Appeals;

c. Sandiganbayan;

d. Regional Trial Court;

e. Metropolitan/Municipal Trial Court;

f. Municipal Circuit Trial Court;

g. Congress of the Philippines; and

h. All other administrative bodies or persons authorized by law to arrest and commit a person to
jail.

Section 15. CLASSIFICATION – refers to assigning or to grouping of inmates according to their

respective penalty, gender, age, nationality, health, criminal records, etc.

Section 16. CATEGORIES OF INMATES -The two (2) general categories of inmates are:

a. Prisoner – inmate who is convicted by final judgment; and

b. Detainee – inmate who is undergoing investigation/trial or awaiting final judgment.

Section 17. CLASSIFICATION OF PRISONERS – The four (4) main classes of prisoners are:

A. Insular Prisoner – one who is sentenced to a prison term of three (3) years and one (1) day to
reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment;

b. Provincial Prisoner – one who is sentenced to a prison term of six (6) months and one (1) day
to three (3) years;

c. City Prisoner – one who is sentenced to a prison term of one (1) day to three (3) years; and

d. Municipal Prisoner – one who is sentenced to a prison term of one (1) day to six (6) months.

Section 18. CLASSIFICATION OF DETAINEES – The three (3) classes of detainees are those:

a. Undergoing investigation;

b. Awaiting or undergoing trial; and

c. Awaiting final judgment.

Section 19. INMATES SECURITY CLASSIFICATION -The following are the classifications
of inmates according to security risk each may pose:
a. High Profile Inmate – those who require increased security based on intense media coverage or
public concern as a result of their offense such as but not limited to those who have been involved
in a highly controversial or sensationalized crime or those who became prominent for being a
politician, government official, multi-million entrepreneur, religious or cause-oriented group
leader and movie or television personality.

b. High Risk Inmate – those who are considered highly dangerous and who require a greater degree
of security, control and supervision because of their deemed capability of escape, of being rescued,
and their ability to launch or spearhead acts of violence inside the jail. This includes those charged
with heinous crimes such as murder, kidnapping for ransom, economic sabotage, syndicated or
organized crimes, etc. Also included are inmates with military or police trainings or those whose
life is in danger or under imminent threat.

c. High Value Target (HVT) – a target, either a resource or a person, who may either be an enemy
combatant, high ranking official or a civilian in danger of capture or death, typically in possession
of critical intelligence, data, or authority marked as an objective for a mission and which a
commander requires for the successful completion of the same.

d. Security Threat Group – any formal or informal ongoing inmates’ group, gang, organization or
association consisting of three or more members falling into one of the following basic categories:
street gangs, prison gangs, outlaw gangs, traditional organized crime, aboriginal gangs, subversive
groups and terrorist organizations.

e. Subversive Group – a group of persons that adopts or advocates subversive principles or policies
tending to overthrow or undermine an established government.
f. Terrorist Group – a group of persons that commits any of the following: piracy and mutiny in
the high seas or in the Philippine waters, rebellion or insurrection, coup d’état, murder, kidnapping
and serious illegal detention, crimes involving destruction, arson, hijacking, violation of laws on
toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear waste control, violations of atomic energy regulations,
anti-piracy and anti-highway robbery, illegal and unlawful possession, manufacture, dealing in,
acquisition or disposition of firearms, ammunitions or explosives.

g. Violent Extremist Offender (VEO) – a person whose political or religious ideologies are
considered far outside the mainstream attitudes of the society or who violates common moral
standards and who has adopted an increasingly extreme ideals and aspirations resorting to the
employment of violence in the furtherance of his/her beliefs.

h. Medium Risk Inmates -those who represent a moderate risk to the public and staff. These
inmates still require greater security, control and supervision as they might escape from and might
commit violence inside the jail.

i. Minimum Risk Inmates (Ordinary Inmates) – those inmates who have lesser tendencies to
commit offenses and generally pose the least risk to public safety. In most cases, they may be first
time offenders and are charged with light offenses.

Section 20. REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMITMENT – No person shall be committed to any

jail facility without the following required documents:
a. Commitment Order;

b. Medical Certificate – recent medical certificate taken within 24 hours prior to admission;

c. Complaint/Information;
d. Police Booking Sheet; and

e. Certificate of Detention from PNP and/or NBI.