JUVENILE FORMATION CENTERS VERSUS JAIL TERMS FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS

JUVENILE FORMATION CENTERS VERSUS JAIL TERMS FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS

What should we really do with children in conflict with the law (CICL)? Should we throw them into regular jails where they will surely learn more bad habits from hardened criminals, or should we give them a real chance at reform and reintegration?

The law is clear: under Republic Act 9344 (the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006), all those 18 and below are considered minors. They should never be mixed with adult offenders. They should be housed in youth care facilities such as the so-called Bahay Pag-asa centers. Detention, according to the law, is supposed to be a last resort.

But reality tells a different story. The Tanglaw Pag-asa Center in Bulacan, for instance, was designed for only 40 residents, but it currently houses 138—41 of whom are under 18, and 97 are already between 18 and 28 years old. These “older” detainees were minors when they committed their offenses, but because of court discretion and lack of facilities, they remain mixed in with younger residents. This kind of arrangement exposes minors to abuse, trauma, and the dangerous influence of older offenders.

Nationwide, we have only 63 Bahay Pag-asa centers. Of these, five are non-operational, and many of the rest are overcrowded and underfunded. Compare that to the rapid growth of our prison population overall—94,691 inmates in 2015 to 165,528 in 2021, a staggering 75% increase. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) itself reports congestion rates of over 500%. If our adult prisons are collapsing from overcrowding, what more our juvenile facilities? The demand far outweighs the supply.

This is why I suggest that we stop calling these facilities “detention” or “correctional” centers. The stigma alone reinforces the idea that these young offenders are beyond saving. Why not call them Juvenile Formation Centers instead? That term is friendlier, more positive, and better aligned with the goal of giving these young people a second chance.

And the focus should indeed be on “formation,” not punishment. These centers should be designed more like boarding schools or home schools, not like prisons. The curriculum should be forward-looking—skills training in agriculture and fisheries for those who want to work with their hands; ICT skills, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics for those with aptitude in technology; and yes, arts and music to nurture creativity and confidence.

But more than just technical skills, formation should include spiritual instruction in the religion of their choice, citizenship training, and the basics of good manners and right conduct. These are the values that prepare a young person not only for employment, but also for responsible adulthood. When they leave these centers, they should be ready to reintegrate as productive members of society, not as repeat offenders.

Of course, this will require serious investment. Local governments that run Bahay Pag-asa centers need support from the national government, both in terms of funding and technical expertise. If we can pour billions into infrastructure, why not into human formation? After all, saving young people from a life of crime is also nation-building.

I believe this shift in approach—from “detention” to “formation”—is not just semantics. Words shape policy, and policy shapes lives. If we truly want restorative justice in the Philippines, then we must be willing to reframe the way we think about young offenders.

The choice is stark: do we continue to let minors rot in overcrowded jails, or do we give them a fighting chance at redemption through Juvenile Formation Centers? For me, the answer is clear. Punishment without formation breeds hardened criminals. But formation, done well, could transform even the most troubled child into a citizen with hope and purpose.

The question is: will our government finally make that choice?

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

11-02-2025 

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