Correcting the Stigma: National Correctional Awareness

It is appropriate and necessary to raise the level of program standards and to continuously create awareness for public participation in the reintegration of prisoners, probationers, and parolees into society as law-abiding citizens who are productive. Reintegration is the process that occurs after an individual has served their sentence and before they are released. Our Filipino brothers and sisters need to be brought back into the mainstream of our national community, and this can only be accomplished through a concerted effort on the part of the government as well as the private sector to work together.

The event, which took place today, October 18, was organized by the College of Criminology to raise awareness about Proclamation No. 551 and how it affects prisoners in the Philippines. Students of criminology were encouraged to attend the event because they will one day fill the roles of law enforcement officers and criminologists. Both of these are fields in which familiarity with the Proclamation is essential.

It is imperative that we acknowledge the malleability of human nature. It is possible to grow as a person by reflecting on and gaining insight from past errors. This is possible if there is an adequate support system in place and if we accept these individuals as part of our community rather than excluding them.