Freedom and Death Inside the Jail.pdf - The Action Program for ...

Firewood: The Root Causes of Problems
Table 4.11 : Inmates’ Perception of Why Their Cases are Delayed
Because of this, an inmate is scheduled for hearing every two
months only. But for to lack of material time or absence of witnesses
or non-appearance of police officers and complainants, a hearing
is called off most of the time.
Inmates who are charged with low-penalty crimes, say two to
three years enter a guilty plea and avail themselves of probation.
That way, their case is processed straightaway and they avoid detention
that lasts for years.
Every week, Quezon City Jail admits an average of 100-120
inmates who come from different police stations in Quezon City,
the National Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement
agencies. Meanwhile, around 80 inmates are released and around
20 are transferred to other penal institutions every week. In other
words, 20 inmates per week or almost a hundred per month are
added to the inmate population of the Jail.
Delay in the inmates’ cases has to do mostly with judges, prosecutors,
and lawyers who either die or are transfered to other courts or
get promoted or removed from their position. According to inmates,
a judge’s promotion translates to a minimum of five months of
no trial. Longer if the judge dies, which could mean at least eight
months of no trial. Most inmates experience having their cases
transferred to different judges at least three or four times, which
translates to two years of the case not making a dent of progress.
When lawyers suddenly withdraw from the case, inmates are
left in the middle of nowhere. This usually happens to inmates
who initially employ the services of private lawyers. After staying
in jail for a year or two, their financial resources dry up and they
can no longer afford to pay their lawyers. They are then forced to
employ PAO lawyers, who have to read and study the cases from
the beginning.
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