NCJ Number
74773
Date Published
1980
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The effects of traditional Philippine attitudes of hostility toward criminals on government attempts to reintegrate penitent adult probationers into the community are discussed.
Abstract
In the Philippines, imprisonment is the most commonly used method of dealing with criminals. Despite provision for over 1,500 correctional institutions, the alternative of probation, regarded as the most promising community-based process of rehabilitating offenders, was made national law in the Philippines in July 1976. Despite the numerous advantages of probation, traditional attitudes permanently relegate the offender to the position of a community outcast. The Filipinos view an offense committed against a family member as an offense against the victim's whole family. Social ostracism, revenge, or reprisal may be taken against the released adult probationer by a member of the victim's family. A specific case illustrates this phenomenon. Governmental pressure may be the antidote to such severe attitudes. It is recommended that 1) information programs at the grassroots level on probation be intensified, 2) rapport with the community be established to facilitate cooperation with the program of offender rehabilitate cooperation with the program of offender rehabilitation, 3) community involvement with probation be stimulated by appointing local volunteer probation aides, and 4) the support of local community organizations be obtained. Although attitudes toward criminals may take some time to change, the processing of 5,000 probation cases in the Philippines since 1978 is evidence that probation may prevent crime and reduce the incidence of criminal recidivism.