The Therapeutic Community

The Therapeutic Community or TC, represents a highly structured environment with defined boundaries, both moral and ethical. The primary goal is to foster personal growth. This is accomplished by re-shaping an individual's behavior and attitudes through the inmates' community working together to help themselves and each other, restoring self confidence, and preparing them for their re-integration into their families and friends as productive members of the community.

The TC approach has been continuously proven worldwide as an effective treatment and rehabilitation modality among drug dependents, and has been noted to be effective in many prisons. By immersing a drug offender in the TC environment, he learns why he had developed his destructive habits, which led him to substance abuse. As TC family members go on with the daily activities, a strong sense of responsibility and concern for the others' welfare are developed. They are constantly being monitored for their progress and are regularly being evaluated by the TC-trained staff.

The whole TC process allows genuine introspection, cultivation of self-worth and positive rationalization that move the individual toward assuming greater sense of personal and moral responsibility.


The BuCor TC History


The fight against drugs began on March 1996 through a crusade by inmates called the Inmates Crusade Against Drugs or ICAD. By 1998, the Department of Justice took initial steps in adopting TC drug treatment and rehabilitation modality patterned after Daytop TC, New York, the base of the Therapeutic Community movement in the world. Officials of Daytop International, in cooperation with Parole and Probations Administration, conducted the TC Training Seminar, attended by several top level corrections officers. This is in line with the program of the government to strengthen its criminal justice system, for the effective control of criminality & drug addiction; thus, the BuCor Therapeutic Community Program or TCP was born, designed by Dr. Edilinda Garcia-Patac, primarily but not limited to drug dependents committed to the Bureau.

On September 27, 1999, The BuCor TCP was formally launched using the facilities of the ICAD as its pilot project. There were twenty-two inmates, most of whom are officers and members of ICAD, as the initial program recipients. By the year 2000, the TC Detoxification Unit was established at the NBP Hospital due to the increasing number of incidents of gang riots attributed to drug-related cases.

In view of the need to coordinate planning and implementation of TC trainings and community-based treatment for greater efficiency and effectiveness, a Special Order was issued to formalized the BuCor TC Center, with Dr. Patac designated as the Chief Executive Officer. By July 2001, an old prison building was refurbished to become the Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center. This was inspected by the Dangerous Drug Board, and subsequently awarded a Permit to Operate as a Residential Rehabilitation Center. License to operate for the BuCor TCC was issued by the Dangerous Drugs Board. Towards the last quarter of the same year, training seminars on Introduction to TC Concepts Modules1 & 2 were successfully conducted, specifically at TC Main, Camp Sampaguita (September 24-28, 2001, Leyte Regional Prison (October 11-18, 2001), Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (November 18-24, 2001) and at the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (December 2 - 8, 2001). One month after each respective training-seminar, the TC actually took formal operations, registering about 15 to 20 inmates in each of the three prisons and penal farms.

Six months later, a Certificate of Accreditation was issued by the Dangerous Drugs Board, accrediting the BuCor TCC in Camp Sampaguita as a Residential Rehabilitation Center.

The BuCor TCC was recognized as part of the World Federation of Therapeutic Communities at Melbourne, Australia.

On April 22, 2002, a Standard Operating Manual for the TCC was created by Dr Patac. The manual stands as a reference guide on the TC approach for the treatment and rehabilitation of TC recipients that will help the technical and administrative staff work uniformly on their respective tasks. During the same year, The Corrections Director and BuCor TCC Chief Executive Officer attended the 5th Asian Federation on Therapeutic Community or AFTC, held in Bangkok, Thailand. Dr Patac is now a lifetime member of AFTC. Towards the end of the year, TC Re-Echo Training Seminars were successfully conducted in the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm and in the Davao Prison and Penal Farm.

The Reception and Diagnostic Center has turned into a TC Camp in 2003, followed by the Muntinlupa Juvenile Training Center (MJTC) in 2004. MJTC, a pilot project of Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the Department of Justice provides the juvenile offenders with vocational training courses and behavior modification programs.

Finally, the TC Program's Standard Operating Manual was computerized and the TC Program Orientation was digitized using the latest Information Technology in 2005.

The need for additional facilities to accommodate and cater the larger number of offenders in the medium security compound has been remedied with the approval of the utilization of the ground floor of TCC building 6.

Future plans in the subsequent years would include TC trainings and seminars; increasing the number of TC trained correctional officers and personnel, as well as inmate staff for a more effective implementation of the TC modality in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug offenders; additional educational and vocational courses; and economic activities.


The BuCor TCC Mission and Vision


Our mission is "To adopt for our drug dependents a working model of the Therapeutic Community believed to be an effective tool in modifying deviant or anti social behavior. This is to restore them to a state where they can be physically, psychologically, and socially capable of re-assimilation to the free society."

Our vision is "To up-grade the rehabilitative services of the Bureau of Corrections through its concept of the Therapeutic Community in adopting self-help and community-based system of managing behavioral dysfunction."


The TC Philosophy


The TC Philosophy consists of 3 worldwide and adaptable principles:

1. Without Dialogue is not TC.

2. TC believes that human beings have to live in a society in the world of Truth, not in the world of drug addicts which is far away from real life.

3. To do things together. Every Member will become more active because of the responsibility the member shares.


The TC Cardinal Rules


The TC family adheres to the following rules:

1. No drugs or alcohol

2. No violence

3. No sex


The Basic Components of Treatment and Rehabilitation Programs


In line with its mission, the Treatment and Rehabilitation Programs have the following basic components:

a. The Reception and Diagnostic Center conducts initial screening of drug dependents or inmate-clients, who will consent themselves to be treated and rehabilitated under the TC program.

b. Before admission, inmate-clients undergo initial interview to determine his eligibility. If found eligible, they will be familiarized with the various functions and activities of the BuCor as well as the TC Program it offers.

c. During assessment, the total perspective of the inmate-client will be studied as a basis for determining his total rehabilitation plan. These include personal, medical, physical, psychological, educational, vocational, and spiritual make-up and nature and extent of his problem. Classification will also be done based on their security status.

d. Based on assessment's results, a plan is evolved and formulated. The six phases involved are as follows:

Phase I - ORIENTATION (Duration: Two (2) Weeks)
The TC principles are explained, and components of daily activities are introduced to the new TC recipients, known as "new intakes". Basic house rules apply and the new intake is required to attend the "hats off" session. He expresses in writing what he expects to learn or achieve in the TC Program.

Phase II - COMMITMENT PHASE, INCARCERATION PERIOD (Duration: One (1) Month to Two (2) Months)
TC Recipients are separated from the rest of the prison population. Analysis of the inmate-drug dependent's problems is based on the viewpoint that "Drug Abuse is a Disorder of the Whole Person." This will be continuous and will last upon evaluation of the inmate's adjustment to the TCC, or may be extended as the inmate's behavior demands. He will be assigned with his primary counselors, composed of the members of the training staff and expediters to conduct emotional interview.

Phase III - THERAPY PROPER (Duration: Four (4) to Five (5) Months)
Treatment is focused on behavior rather than thoughts and feelings. The therapy proper shall be cognitive, behavioral and emotional. He begins to address his drug abuse, his criminal activities and problems. This helps him recognize errors in his thinking. He begins to take responsibility for his behavior by being held responsible or accountable for his attitudes and actions. It helps him understand how and why certain thinking patterns have developed overtime.

Phase IV - INCORPORATION OF PHASES II AND III (Duration: Approx. Five (5) weeks)
He begins to assume higher responsibilities in the TC hierarchy. Continually assuming responsibilities will further develop constructive behavior and acceptable work attitude, as he continues to participate in-group sessions. At the end of this phase, he could already be assigned as one of the Expediters or qualify him as the Training Staff.

Phase V - ASSESSMENT OF TREATMENT PROGRESS (Duration: Approx. two (2) weeks)
The Chief Executive Officer, the Coordinator with the assistance of the Inmate Training Staff and Expediters will undertake assessments. Evaluation will be undertaken by the NBP TCP Evaluation Board. If he qualifies as a training staff, he may remain in the TCC while waiting for his release. He can be accommodated to the second level of rehabilitation, to include vocational skills training and education, according to his educational needs. He attends seminars and group sessions, participates in group therapy to strengthen what he has acquired in the rehabilitation program. As well as activities to include mock interview such as "Job hunting", and looking for ways to further his educational or vocational skills.

Phase VI - SUMMING UP OF THE FIVE TREATMENT PHASES AND RECOMMENDATION FOR RELEASE (Duration: Two (2) weeks)
The TC program recipient is now ready for re-entry to the larger prison community, or for release, if qualified for parole or conditional pardon. He is ready for "gainful employment" or assignment in a specific institutional area while continuing to receive post treatment assistance. He continues to participate in in-house activities [txt: seminars; social events], and serves as role model for those who are in the early stages of treatment.

e. Periodic Evaluation is conducted to determine the proper implementation of the treatment and or rehabilitation plan, its progress, and, if goals are being achieved.

f. Discharge is the release of inmate-client from the facility. They are classified as either Permanent Discharge or Temporary Discharge.

g. Continuing treatment services aimed at decreasing the risk of relapse and recidivism shall be undertaken for six months. He is required to attend weekly group sessions; individual counseling and urine monitoring will be conducted. Most important, he must return to the TCC twice a month to serve as role model. For determination of program effectiveness, a follow-up study is conducted for a period of six months after program completion. An in-depth assessment of drug use and risk behaviors follows.


Services Offered by the BuCor TCC


As a drug-rehabilitation facility, the BuCor TCC offers the following services:

a. Comprehensive health care services ranging from routine physical examination and screening procedures to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of illnesses and other medical problems.

b. The psychiatric team conducts therapy to those with behavioral and psychiatric disorders.

c. Assessment of psychological conditions are conducted through psychological testing and evaluation, as well as counseling.

d. Social services assist physical, social, moral and spiritual development. They learned how to cope up with their problems, facilitate and promote their interpersonal relationships, and adjustments to the demands of a treatment program.

e. Strengthening the spiritual foundation by developing moral and spiritual values. These involve reorientation of moral values, spiritual renewal, bible study and charismatic sessions.

f. The process of identifying accurately the problems and referring to the agency that can provide appropriate services.

g. Sports and recreation facilities provide constructive activities and establish peer relationship as an alternative to drug abuse.

In addition, these services include provisions of basic foods, clothing and shelter. Educational opportunities are also made available for the purpose of improving skills, interests, and capabilities on a particular field of their choice. These may also improve their work habits.

The proliferation of drugs in this country necessitates the provision of proper rehabilitation centers in our National Penitentiary and its Penal Colonies. The establishment of TCCs is significantly more attractive than employing additional professional staff, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. It is a formidable, nonetheless an achievable and viable undertaking. Any positive strategy in quelling drug menace for the protection of our society has to be an exceedingly worthwhile endeavor that would eventually make our country, a drug-free Philippines.

And this is what the Bureau of Corrections is all about…CORRECTIONS.


(Click here to open the TC Standard Operating Manual)