Whereas, Republic Act No.

6975, otherwise known as the

“Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990,”
provides that the task of jail management and penology shall be
the responsibility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology
(BJMP). As an institution, and pursuant to the mandate earlier
mentioned, the BJMP has defined through consultative and
participatory strategic planning sessions its vision, mission,
powers, functions, values, objectives and principles;

Whereas, in view of the number of challenges brought about by

time and circumstances having particular bearing on the bureau's
operations, it behooves the BJMP to revisit its existing
Comprehensive Operations Manual make it more responsive to
the bureau's mandate of "Safekeeping and Development" of all
district, city and municipal jail inmates;

Whereas, it has become imperative to ensure uniformity in the

discharge of functions by all BJMP personnel concerned; to ensure
uniformity in the implementation BJMP policies, rules and
regulations; and to ensure uniformity in the treatment of inmates in
BJMP-manned jails including those over which BJMP may
exercise operational jurisdiction, by virtue of a Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA);

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Book IV of the Administrative

Code of 1987, this second edition of BJMP Comprehensive
Operations Manual is hereby adopted for observance, and
guidance relative to ensuring humane safekeeping and
development of inmates.

RULE I GENERAL PROVISIONS Section

1. MANDATE - The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology was

created on January 2, 1991 pursuant to Republic Act 6975,
replacing its forerunner, the Jail Management and Penology
Service of the defunct Philippine ConstabularyIntegrated National
Police. The BJMP exercises administrative and operational
jurisdiction over all district, city and municipal jails. It is a line
bureau of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG).
 Section 2. VISION - The BJMP envisions itself as a dynamic
institution highly regarded for its sustained humane safekeeping
and development of inmates.

Section 3. MISSION - The Bureau aims to enhance public safety

by providing humane safekeeping and development of inmates in
all district, city and municipal jails.

Section 4. POWERS -The BJMP exercises supervision and control

over all district, city and municipal jails. As such, it shall ensure the
establishment of secure, clean, adequately equipped sanitary
facilities; and ensure the provision of quality services for the
custody, safekeeping, rehabilitation and development of BJMP
Comprehensive Operations Manual Revised 2015 Page 2 Bureau
of Jail Management and Penology district, city and municipal
inmates, 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 as certified by the proper
medical or health officer, pending transfer to a mental institution.

Section 5. FUNCTIONS -In line with its mission, the Bureau

endeavors to perform the following functions: a. to enhance and upgrade
organizational capability on a regular basis; thus, making all BJMP personnel
updated on all advancements in law enforcement eventually resulting in
greater crime solution efficiency and decreased inmate population; b. to
implement strong security measures for the control of inmates; c. to provide
for the basic needs of inmates; d. to conduct activities for the rehabilitation
and development of inmates; and e. to improve jail facilities and conditions.

Section 6. Vision, Mission, Objectives and Functions of Directorate for

Operations

a. Vision – A Directorate that will be instrumental in the humane safekeeping

of inmates.
b. b. Mission – To enhance jail management by formulating policies and
guidelines on humane safekeeping of inmates and ensure their compliance in
all district, city and municipal jails.
C. Objectives
- To monitor the compliance by wardens with the different operational policies
and regulations set forth by the bureau;
- To help enhance the security and safety of the inmates as well as the jail
facilities;
- To equip the personnel with the necessary skills in the effective
management of jail security and safekeeping of inmates.
 - To ensure that the bureau complies with its directives pertaining to jail
operations; and
- To ensure that the bureau complies with the principles relative to use of
different international instruments in the humane treatment of inmates.

d. Functions - Advises and assists the BJMP chief on matters relating to the
formulation and execution of correctional programs, particularly as regard
organization, training, operation and planning;
- Formulates and implements policies, guidelines, and programs relating to
security, custody, discipline and control of offenders;
- Conducts periodic inspection of jail facilities and supervision over jail facility
personnel; reviews matters concerning penology such as custody, security,
discipline and control of offenders; and ensures that the same are properly
and religiously implemented;
- Formulates plans, programs, policies and guidelines for the effective
nationwide implementation of rehabilitation programs and services for all
inmates;
- Coordinates with private and government agencies and solicits their
assistance and support for rehabilitation programs in jails nationwide; and
- Performs such other functions as the BJMP chief may direct.

Section 7. DISTRICT JAIL - In large cities or a group of clustered

municipalities, a district jail headed by a district warden may be established.

Section 8. CITY AND MUNICIPAL JAILS - The BJMP operates and maintains
city and municipal jails, each headed by a city or municipal warden, as the
case may be.

Section 9. CORE VALUES -The BJMP’s officers and staff are guided by the
following core values:
a. Commitment - strong sense of dedication to the ideals of the organization
and to the public that it serves;
b. b. Respect for Human Rights - to promote and protect the rights of our
fellow human beings;
c. c. Efficiency/Competence - mastery of important skills for delivery of quality
services;
d. d. Cooperation - willingness to share efforts in implementing plans and
achieving goals; and
e. e. Teamwork - the combined effective action of all personnel.

Section 10. OBJECTIVES -The broad objectives of the Bureau are the
following:
a. To improve the living conditions of offenders in accordance with the
accepted standards set by the United Nations;
b. b. To enhance the safekeeping, rehabilitation and development of
offenders in preparation for their eventual reintegration into the mainstream of
society upon their release; and
c. c. To professionalize jail services.
d.
Section 11. PRINCIPLES - The following principles shall be observed in the
implementation of the preceding sections:
a. Humane treatment of inmates;
b. Observance of professionalism in the performance of duties; and
c. Multi-sectoral approach in the safekeeping and development of inmates
can be strengthened through active partnership with other members of the
criminal justice system and global advocates of corrections.

Section 12. DEFINITION OF TERMS - As used in this Manual, the following

terms are defined: Alcoholics - those inmates who suffer from alcoholism or
those engaged in the improper compulsive intake of alcohol which may
result in physical, social and behavioral problems.

Bisexual - are those inmates who have a sexual attraction or sexual behavior
toward both males and females, and may also encompass sexual attraction
to people of any gender identity or to a person irrespective of that person’s
biological sex or gender.
Carpeta - otherwise known as “inmate record or jacket”, contains the
personal and criminal records of inmates, documents related to his/her
incarceration such as but not limited to: commitment order, subpoenas,
personal identification, orders from the court, and all other papers
necessarily connected with the detention of an inmate.

Child or Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), also known as “Youth
Offender” - a person under eighteen (18) years old who is alleged as,
accused of or adjudged as having committed an offense under the Philippine
laws.
Chief Custodial Officer - is the personnel in-charge in the overall supervision
of all custodial functions.
City Jail - is a facility or a place of confinement for those inmates who are
sentenced with a penalty from (1) one day to three (3) year imprisonment.
Clustering of Jails - the designation of a municipal or city Jail as a facility for
one or more adjacent municipalities in order to maximize the utilization of
personnel and other resources.

The “host” city or municipality is named as a district to accommodate

inmates from the municipalities clustered to it.
Commitment Order - a written order of the court, or any other agency
authorized by law to issue, entrusting an inmate to a jail for the purpose of
safekeeping during the pendency of his/her case.
Contraband - any article, item, or thing prohibited by law and/or forbidden by
jail rules that would pose as security hazards or endanger the lives of
inmates. Conjugal Visitation – refers to the visit by the wife for a short period,
usually an hour, more or less, to her incarcerated husband during which they
are allowed privacy and are generally understood to have sexual contact.
Detainee - a person who is accused before a court or competent authority
and is temporarily confined in jail while undergoing or awaiting investigation,
trial, or final judgment.
 District Jail - is a facility or a place of confinement for inmates coming from a
city or clustered municipalities who are waiting or undergoing trial or serving
sentence of one (1) day to three (3) years.
Drug Dependents - are those inmates who have a psychological craving for
habituation to and abuse of or physiologic reliance on a chemical/drug
substance. Drug Users - are those inmates who take substances/drugs that
can alter their body and mind works. Escape-Prone Inmates - are inmates
who are likely and have the tendency to escape from the jail facility.
Gay - is a male homosexual inmate, who experiences romantic love or
sexual attraction to fellow male inmates.
High Risk Inmates in BJMP Jails - are those considered as highly dangerous
or with high probability of escaping or being rescued because of the gravity
of the crimes they are accused of or have a propensity for being
troublemakers or initiators of jail riots and disturbance and who require a
high degree of control and supervision.
Particularly included herein are those charged with heinous crimes, such as
murder, terrorism, kidnap for ransom, violation of R.A. No. 9165, the
imposable penalty for which is from life imprisonment to death, etc.

These also include those who have a record of escaping from jails,
recidivists, habitual delinquents, and those with severe personality or
emotional disorders that make them dangerous to their fellow inmates or the
jail personnel.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology High Profile Inmates in BJMP

Jails - are those who are not necessarily charged with heinous crimes but
are prominent figures in society or public figures whose cases have drawn
public interest. Infirmed Inmates - are those inmates who are physically or
mentally weak for a prolonged period of time specifically caused by age or
illness. Inmate - is the generic term used to refer to a detainee or prisoner.