The AA program also provides the inmates an outlet to discuss other substance abuse issues they may be facing as well. This program allows inmates to establish a network for support in the community once they have completed their jail sentences. This program allows inmates to address the underlying issues that have led them to alcohol use/abuse. The function of the AA program in the Adult Detention Center is to provide inmates the opportunity to discuss their issues with alcohol use and abuse in a non-judging environment among their peers. Providing inmates the opportunity to obtain their GED also helps to make them more marketable in the job force when they return to the community, as well as reducing their likelihood of re-offending due to lack of job opportunities. Justice Jorge Coquia refers to “the prison and correctional systems in the Philippines as the repository of the criminal justice system that provides for the safekeeping and the rehabilitation of prisoners and detainees.” However, while our laws on criminal penalties are strong on the punitive aspect, they seem to be wanting in the rehabilitative aspect.The function of the GED/Adult Education Program in the Adult Detention Center is to provide inmates the opportunity to obtain their GED while they are incarcerated. This two-edged mandate to enhance the human rights of offenders and to provide for their rehabilitation bring to fore, not only the present jail conditions in the country but also the extent of the integration of the rehabilitative penalty system into criminal justice system. Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that it is the prime duty of the government to serve and protect the people, to maintain peace and order, and to protect life, liberty, and property and to promote the general welfare, which are all essential for the people to enjoy the blessings of democracy. In addition to reinforcing respect for the human rights of offenders, our laws prescribe as well that the State ensure the rehabilitation and the reformation of all those who will be rejoining the outside community by virtue of the doctrine of parens patriae and the inherent right of the State to exercise its police power. The same is also provided for in other international declarations and conventions, especially as provided for in the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. It emphasizes the need for a penitentiary system that aims the reformation and social rehabilitation of offenders to prepare them to rejoine the outside community. The employment of physical, psychological, or degrading punishment against any prisoner or detainee or the use of substandard or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman conditions shall be dealt with by law.” The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights further provides for the respect of the human rights of offenders. Any death penalty already imposed shall be reduced to reclusion perpetua. Neither shall death penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling reasons involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for it. Another section of the Bill of Rights provides: “Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment inflicted. The Constitution provides that “No torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any other means which vitiate the free will shall be used against” the convicts. Commission of crime does not deprive a person of his or her basic human rights. The Bill of Rights protects every human being from deprivation of “life, liberty, or property without due process of law,” and guarantees “the equal protection of law.” Thus, every human being, no matter what his social, economic and legal standing in the community, remains entitled to the equal protection of law. A visit to prisons in the Philippines will reveal the sorry state of our penitentiary system and how the current situation defeats its purpose and intent – to punish the crimes of offenders and to rehabilitate offenders to become productive members of society once again. THE PRESENT CRIMINAL PENALTY SYSTEM OF THE PHILIPPINES: A VIOLATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF OFFENDERS AND PROOF OF THE FAILURE OF THE GOVERNMENT TO COMPLY WITH ITS DUTY.
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