Formed January 2, 1991 | Website www.bjmp.gov.ph | |
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Headquarters 144 Mindanao Avenue,
Barangay Bahay Toro,
Quezon City, Philippines Parent agency Department of the Interior and Local Government | ||
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology is an attached agency of the Department of the Interior and Local Government mandated to direct, supervise and control the administration and operation of all district, city and municipal jails in the Philippines with pronged tasks of safekeeping and development of its inmates.
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It was created on January 2, 1991 by virtue of Republic Act No. 6975 also known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990. Prior to its creation, the Office of Jail Management and Penology of then Philippine Constabulary - Integrated National Police was the agency handling the local penology of the Philippines. It aimed to separate the agency from the national police, reporting directly to the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.
The Jail Bureau, pursuant to Section 60 to 65, Chapter V, Republic Act No. 6975 amended by Republic Act No. 9263 (Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004), is headed by a Chief who is assisted by two (2) Deputy Chiefs, one (1) for Administration and another for Operations, and one (1) Chief of Directorial Staff, all of whom are appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government from among the qualified officers with the rank of at least Senior Superintendent in the Jail Bureau. The Chief of the Jail Bureau carries the rank of Director and serves a tour of duty that must not exceed four (4) years, unless extended by the President in times of war and other national emergencies.
The Jail Bureau operates and maintains Regional Offices in each of the administrative regions of the country, headed by a Regional Director for Jail Management and Penology, with the rank of at least Senior Superintendent. The Regional Director is assisted by an Assistant Regional Director for Administration, Assistant Regional Director for Operations, and Regional Chief of Directorial Staff, who are all officers with the rank of at least Superintendent.
In every province, the Jail Bureau operates and maintains a Provincial Jail Administrator’s Office headed by a Provincial Administrator, who oversee the implementation of jail services of all district, city and municipal jails within its territorial jurisdiction. In large cities or a group of clustered municipalities, a District Jail headed by a District Warden may be established. The City and Municipal Jails, each headed by a City or Municipal Warden.