Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Managing correctional population is a challenging and expensive task for state and local jurisdictions. In recent years, methods of securities were implemented to secure the inmates and to lessen the cases of escapes. These help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of correctional management.
According to Lukens, there was a problem in monitoring the inmates during the headcount procedure as the inmates portray the appearance of a sleeping person in cell beds. To resolve this dilemma, they required all the inmates to stand in order in specific area at the same time during headcounts. It was observed that the time it takes to finish this procedure was impractical so they switch to a procedure of checking each inmate in their individual cells (Preventing Prison Escapes and Responding to Security Audits, 2000).
Traditional way of monitoring the inmates was considered as impractical as it only applies on situational instances. Wortley (2002) said, that one of possible reasons why prisoners were able to escape prisons is the way these traditional approaches were implemented.
Two inmates of the Manila City Jail escaped and had disarmed ten officers in their wake. Due to the heavy rain, they had gone unnoticed by the roving guard on duty that night (Andrade, 2012).
In 2002, 17 inmates at BJMP Tagum City Jail escaped in broad daylight. Outnumbering the personnel on duty during the headcount in the morning, the inmates took opportunity and ran towards the gate disarming personnel. In 2003, an inmate also escaped during the night because he was able to break the corroded prison rails. Using the darkness as a cloak, the inmate had gone unnoticed by the roving personnel (BJMP Tagum City Escape Synopsis, 2002).
Over the years, the population of inmates in local prisons increases which means it requires more guards and