The Parole and Probation Administration (Filipino: Pangasiwaan ng Parol at Probasyon), abbreviated as

PPA, is an agency of the Philippine government under the Department of Justice responsible for providing a less costly
alternative to imprisonment of offenders who are likely to respond to individualized community-based treatment
programs.

History

Probation was first introduced in the Philippines during the American colonial period (1898–1945) with the
enactment of Act No. 4221 of the Philippine Legislature on August 7, 1935. This law created a Probation Office under
the Department of Justice. On November 16, 1937, after barely two years of existence, the Supreme Court of the
Philippines declared the Probation Law unconstitutional because of some defects in the law's procedural framework.

In 1972, House Bill No. 393 was filed in Congress, which would establish a probation system in the
Philippines. This bill avoided the objectionable features of Act 4221 that struck down the 1935 law as unconstitutional.
The bill was passed by the House of Representatives, but was pending in the Senate when Martial Law was declared
and Congress was abolished.

In 1975, the National Police Commission Interdisciplinary drafted a Probation Law. After 18 technical
hearings over a period of six months, the draft decree was presented to a selected group of 369 jurists, penologists,
civic leaders and social and behavioral scientists and practitioners. The group overwhelmingly endorsed the
establishment of an Adult Probation System in the country.

On July 24, 1976, Presidential Decree No. 968, also known as Adult Probation Law of 1976, was signed into
Law by the President of the Philippines.

The startup of the probation system in 1976-1977 was a massive undertaking during which all judges and
prosecutors nationwide were trained in probation methods and procedures; administrative and procedural manuals were
developed; probation officers recruited and trained, and the central agency and probation field offices organized
throughout the country. Fifteen selected probation officers were sent to United States for orientation and training in
probation administration. Upon their return, they were assigned to train the newly recruited probation officers.

The probation system started to operate on January 3, 1978. As more probation officers were recruited and
trained, more field offices were opened. There are at present 204 field offices spread all over the country, supervised by
15 regional offices.

The Organization

The Probation Administration was created by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 968, “The Probation Law of
1976”, to administer the probation system. Under Executive Order No. 292, “The Administrative Code of 1987” which
was promulgated on November 23, 1989, the Probation Administration was renamed “Parole and Probation
Administration” and given the added function of supervising prisoners who, after serving part of their sentence in jails
are released on parole pardon with parole conditions

Effective August 17, 2005, by virtue of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Dangerous Drugs Board, the
Administration performs another additional function of investigating and supervising first-time minor drug offenders
who are placed on suspended pursuant to Republic Act No. 9165

Vision

A model component of the Philippine Correctional System that shall enhance the quality of life of its clients
through multi-disciplinary programs and resources, an efficient organization and a highly professional & committed
workforce in order to promote social justice and development.
Mission

To rehabilitate probationers, parolees and pardoners and promote their development as integral persons by
utilizing innovative interventions and techniques which respect the dignity of man and recognize his divine destiny.

Mandate

The Parole and Probation Administration is mandated to conserve and/or redeem convicted offenders and
prisoners who are under the probation or parole system.

Goals

The Administration's programs sets to achieve the following goals:

• Promote the reformation of criminal offenders and reduce the incidence of recedivism, and
• Provide a cheaper alternative to the institutional confinement of first-time offenders who are likely to respond
to individualized, community-based treatment programs.

Functions

To carry out these goals, the Agency through its network of regional and field parole and probation offices
performs the following functions:

• to administer the parole and probation system

• to exercise supervision over parolees, pardonees and probationers
• to promote the correction and rehabilitation of criminal offenders

Major Rehabilitation Programs

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE (RJ) is a philosophy and a process whereby stakeholders in a specific offense
resolve collectively how to deal with the aftermath of the offense and its implications for the future. It is a victim-
centered response to crime that provides opportunity for those directly affected by the crime - the victim, the offender,
their families and the community - to be directly involved in responding to the harm caused by the crime. Its ultimate
objective is to restore the broken relationships among stakeholders.

The Restorative Justice process provides a healing opportunity for affected parties to facilitate the recovery of
the concerned parties and allow them to move on with their lives.

The VOLUNTEER PROBATION AIDE (VPA) PROGRAM is a strategy by which the Parole and
Probation Administration may be able to generate maximum citizen participation or community involvement. Citizens
of good standing in the community may volunteer to assist the probation and parole officers in the supervision of a
number of probationers, parolees and conditional pardonees in their respective communities. Since they reside in the
same community as the client, they are able to usher the reformation and rehabilitation of the clients hands-on.

In collaboration with the PPO, the VPA helps pave the way for the offender, victim and community to each
heal from the harm resulting from the crime done. They can initiate a circle of support for clients and victims to prevent
further crimes, thereby be participants in nation-building

The THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY (TC) is a self-help social learning treatment model used in the
rehabilitation of drug offenders and other clients with behavioral problems. TC adheres to precepts of “right living” -
Responsible Love and Concern; Truth and Honesty; the Here and Now; Personal Responsibility for Destiny; Social
Responsibility (brother’s keeper); Moral Code; Work Ethics and Pride in Quality.

The Therapeutic Community (TC) is an environment that helps people get help while helping themselves. It
operates in a similar fashion to a functional family with a hierarchical structure of older and younger members. Each
member has a defined role and responsibilities for sustaining the proper functioning of the TC. There are sets of rules
and community norms that members commit to live by and uphold upon entry. The primary “therapist” and teacher is
the community itself, consisting of peers, staff/probation and parole officers and even Volunteer Probation Aides
(VPA), who, as role models of successful personal change, serve as guides in the recovery process.

(Source: P.D 968)

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 968 July 24, 1976

ESTABLISHING A PROBATION SYSTEM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES

WHEREAS, one of the major goals of the government is to establish a more enlightened and humane correctional
systems that will promote the reformation of offenders and thereby reduce the incidence of recidivism;

WHEREAS, the confinement of all offenders prisons and other institutions with rehabilitation programs constitutes an
onerous drain on the financial resources of the country; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to provide a less costly alternative to the imprisonment of offenders who are likely to
respond to individualized, community-based treatment programs;