Characterization of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at Aparri District Jail, Aparri, Cagayan

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) as a line bureau of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as provided under Republic Act 6975 of 1990 mandated to safeguard and rehabilitate all persons deprived of their liberty for whatever reason for their detention. These PDLs have been taken out of their normal environment and are no longer allowed to manage their own lives. There are factors needed to be given attention such as their individual characteristics (sex, age, etc.), the general situation in which they are detained, the reason for their detention, and the stage they are at in any judicial or administrative process and by whom they are being held. A total of one hundred seven (107) PDLs were used as respondents of the study representing 100 percent of its total population. The researcher made used of a questionnaire to gather the needed data from the respondents. Interview was also conducted in order to verify some vague answers on the questionnaire. Results of the study, majority belong to the age bracket of 18–27 years of age, males, and are married, they belong to the Roman Catholic, most reached and finished high school and during the commission of the crimes, many were self-employed. In terms of the crimes committed by the PDLs, most have crimes against special laws, majority of them were already arraigned, and mostly have attended 1–5 hearings, have stayed in jail for one year 1month-6 months. In addition, most circumstance noted was “self-motivated interest”. It can be concluded that PDLs came from all walks of life as seen in the profile of respondents. The highest educational attainment and occupation of the respondents have something to do in the commission of the crime.