Stewarding Persons Deprived of Liberty: Experiences of City Jail Officers Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic

Jail officers are an underserved population of public safety workers at high risk for developing chronic mental health conditions. In response to national calls for the examination of stressors related to the unique work contexts of correctional facilities, we implemented a pilot study informed by the Total Worker Health® (TWH) strategy at two urban and two rural jails. Participatory teams guided areas of interest for a mixed-data needs assessment, including surveys with 320 jail officers to inform focus groups (N = 40). Urban and rural jails in the midwestern United States. Jail correctional officers and sheriff's deputies employed at participating jails. We measured mental health characteristics using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Mental Health scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, and the two-item Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist. Constructs to identify workplace characteristics included emotional support, work-family conflict, dangerousness, health climate, organizational operations, effectiveness of training, quality of supervision, and organizational fairness. On the basis of general population estimates, we found that jail officers were at higher risk for mental health disorders, including depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Jail officers identified workplace health interventions to address individual-, interpersonal-, institutional-, and community-level needs. Implementation of a TWH needs assessment in urban and rural jails to identify evidence-informed, multilevel interventions was found to be feasible. Using this assessment, we identified specific workplace health protection and promotion solutions. Results from this study support the profession's vision to influence policies, environments, and systems through collaborative work. This TWH study has implications for practice and research by addressing mental health needs among jail officers and by providing practical applications to create evidence-informed, tailored interventions to promote workplace health in rural and urban jails.

Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) concepts are difficult to get across to the community leaders, especially to the residents themselves. In the past, competence in disaster preparedness cannot take off in the barangay level due to an apparent lack of education as noted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Local government units (LGUs) recognize the importance of disaster risk reduction management. However, issues on policies that have bearing on the pre- implementation, implementation, and post-implementation activities are deemed important. Thus, the study explored the governance issues on disaster risk reduction of local government units’ basic social services of selected barangays in the Province of Bukidnon. Focus Group Discussion (FGD), interviews, and checklist were used in gathering the data to answer the following objectives: (1) assess the pre-implementation, during the implementation, and post-implementation of the disaster risk reduction management policies focusing on the basic social services such as food, water, electricity, and health in the identified barangays; (2) identify issues on the implementation of the DRRM based on the pillars of good governance; and (3) recommend appropriate measures to respond to governance issues. Findings reveal that the local government units of the Province of Bukidnon showed preparedness in disaster risk reduction in pre-implementation, during the implementation, and post-implementation of the disaster risk reduction management policies. Governance issues were identified, namely, distribution of basic services, relocation site, list of households in the community, and accessibility of information. However, appropriate measures were recommended to respond to the identified governance issues.

The aim of this study was to explore posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom prevalence and health characteristics among jail correctional officers, a generally understudied population of public safety workers. A Conservation of Resources (COR)-inspired framework explored relationships to PTSD symptoms among jail officers (N = 320) employed in Midwest US jails. More than half (53.4%) of jail officers screened positively for PTSD. Hierarchical regression analysis indicates that burnout was a significant predictor of symptoms of PTSD (B = 0.25, P < 0.001). Self-efficacy (B = -0.42, P < 0.01), emotional labor (B = 0.20, P < 0.01), and an anxiety- or depression-related diagnosis (B = 0.92, P < 0.001) remained significant predictors of PTSD-related symptoms in the final step. Our findings highlight the potentially high prevalence and impact of PTSD among jail officers, and offer implications for public safety workplace health interventions.

Correction, play a critical role in criminal justice system. Nevertheless, despite the existing laws that provide reformation and protects the rights of every Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL), jail officers are chronically understudied relative to their issues and concerns experiences in dealing with PDL. This study seeks to fill a gap in the literature related to jail studies by interviewing the City jail in Ozamiz in order to determine their issues and concerns towards the PDL. There are seven Jail Officers served as the participants of the study. Data obtained through interviews were analyzed through Houlton Thematic analysis it analyzed the qualitative data. The gathered data from the participants were analyzed and found four (4) themes which includes: (1) Struggles in eradicating contraband; (2) Difficulty in maintaining the security and other services due to lack of personnel; (3) Different personalities of the Persons Deprived of Liberty; (4) Lack of fund. We discuss the implications of these findings, includes in addressing the Philippine government to support the needs of National, Regional, and local jails especially in allocation of budget, providing additional enhancement programs for the personality development of PDL, and increased of jail personnel for effective performance of services.

Local governments in the Philippines are the nearest service units to its citizens. They are expected to deliver quality services to their constituents. As recipients of the different services, citizens are deemed in better position to assess whether quality services are delivered by the different municipalities in the country. In order to address the need to gather citizens’ feedback on the service delivery performance of the local government units (LGU), the Department of Interior and Local Government developed the Citizen Satisfaction Index System (CSIS). The municipality of Tumauini in the province of Isabela is one of the selected LGUs to implement the CSIS project in the country to measure its performance in service delivery for 2018.&#x0D; This study assessed the awareness and satisfaction of the people in Tumauini, Isabela on the services for Public Works and Infrastructure delivered by the LGU. There were 150 respondents selected using the multi-stage probability sampling method. In gathering the data needed, face to face interview was used with the aid of survey questionnaire.&#x0D; Overall, results revealed that citizens of Tumauini are aware and satisfied with the different service indicators of the Public Works and Infrastructure programs.&#x0D; Results of the study may help local government officials in crafting policies and making management decisions to improve the performance of the local government of Tumauini in the provision and delivery of Public Works and Infrastructure services to its constituents.

This study aimed to explore the life experiences of the Women and Children Desk (WCPD) handling Violence against Women and their Children (VAWC) cases during the pandemic in Cebu City. Specifically, sought to address the following specific problems: the experiences of the informants in handling VAWC cases during the Covid-19 pandemic, addressing the problems encountered by the informants, and aspirations of the informants to improve the quality of service to the victims of VAWC. The phenomenological and qualitative approach in this study was utilized through interviews as the key process in the gathering of data. There were ten (10) selected police officers handling Violence against Women and their Children (VAWC) during the Covid-19 pandemic in Cebu City. Five (5) of them were individually interviewed, while the other five (5) were included in the Focused Group Discussion (FGD). They were selected randomly but met the qualifications and have broad experience in the subject matter. The research locations are the top five (5) police stations in Cebu City with a high number of VAWC cases is Cebu City namely: Police Station (PS) 4- Mabolo; PS5- Carbon; PS7- Pardo; PS9- Guadalupe and PS10- Punta. A validated interview guide was aided by the voice recorder for the basis of transcribing the responses of the informants. Utilization of Colaizzi's method, a phenomenological analysis procedure, was used to analyze the responses of the informants during the interview. For the experiences of the informants in handling VAWC cases in Cebu City during a pandemic, themes created were Satisfaction with Desired Result, Attained Productivity, and Embracing Limitations of Official Functions in addressing the problems encountered in handling (VAWC) cases during pandemic, the following themes created were: Intensified Implementation of Restrictions, Established Online Presence, and Maintaining Effective Collaboration and for the aspirations of the informants to improve the quality of service to the victims of VAWC, the following theme were created: New Normal Retooling and Equipment for Stabilization. The Philippine National Police (PNP)- Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) officers, as a specialized unit in enforcing laws related to the protection of women and children and regarded as the “quick-response-unit,” must maintain dynamic and standardized public service. It is suggested that the Performance Standards and Assessment Tool for police service addressing cases of violence against women be amended where the assessment tool should not be done as “Self-administered” to identify committed officers who are working diligently to end violence against women and children. The retooling of PNP-WCPD should not only cover policy-related attitudes, habits, and work ethics but should also investigate an array of services that can be extended during a crisis. The provision of additional facilities and personnel to attend VAWC cases will expedite the acquisition of relevant documents for filing legal actions and will be timely in the recent health crisis. This will enable the Department of Health to provide prompt intervention on the outbreak of mental health problems aggravated by the pandemic. PNP-WCPD and other linkages should develop process-based alternatives and act on the research of shared resources from the Covid-19 experiences because health protocols altered policing strategies and are not conducive to problem-oriented crime prevention and innovation.

Utilizing a combination of jail official data and qualitative data gathered through Focus Group Discussions and interviews with inmates, court actors, and jail officers, this article investigates the factors related to prolonged trial of detained defendants in the Philippines. Sensitizing concepts derived from Western literature are utilized to understand individual, court, and jail-level variations to prolonged detention. Results from official jail data show the magnitude and extent of the problem. The narrative data suggests the salience of organizational and cultural dynamics that lead to the delay of cases for detained defendants. Specifically, courts that are loosely coupled and subscribe to workgroup culture that condones leniency are more likely to be delayed. Implications to theory and policy are discussed.

This study assessed citizen satisfaction with the delivery of economic, investment, and tourism promotion programs in Buruanga, Aklan. The study utilized the Citizens’ Satisfaction Index System (CSIS), a tool developed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). The research evaluates awareness, availment, satisfaction, and the need for action regarding local initiatives. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving 150 respondents (75 male and 75 female), aged 18 years and older, all of whom had resided in Buruanga for at least six months. Key findings indicate that awareness levels vary significantly across programs. High awareness was noted for Livelihood Programs (54.67%) and Development and Maintenance of Tourist Attractions (53.33%), while Public Employment Services (28.67%) and Regulation and Supervision of Businesses (33.33%) exhibited low awareness. Availment rates highlighted strong utilization of tourism-related services (82.5%), contrasting with a low availment rate of Public Employment Services (11.63%). Satisfaction ratings were notably high across most programs, with 100% satisfaction reported for public employment services and 98.48% for tourism promotion activities. Despite high satisfaction levels, a considerable percentage of respondents expressed a need for action, particularly regarding investment promotion activities (31.91%) and tourism initiatives (24.24%). This study contributes to existing literature by highlighting the importance of citizen feedback in refining economic and tourism initiatives. It highlights the need for local governments to enhance awareness and accessibility while continuously evaluating program effectiveness to meet community needs. By addressing these gaps, local government units can tailor services to better meet community demands, ultimately enhancing governance strategies in Buruanga, Aklan.

For the past decades, collaborative governance has evolved as a substantial concept and method of yielding outcomes to the research and literature of various scholars. It is also a practical and innovative way of governance wherein different stakeholders share a common goal in pursuing a collective action. At the very core, this study focuses in ‘collaborative governance’ as a manifestation of the implementation of SALINTUBIG (Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para Sa Lahat) program in the province of Batangas, specifically in the municipalities of Balayan, Lemery, and Tuy. The SALINTUBIG program is a pro-poor initiative of the central government of the Philippines providing water supply systems with priority given to waterless areas and enhancing their local capacities in the planning, implementation, operation, and management of water services. The program is jointly implemented by national institutions such as the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), in collaboration with the local government units (LGUs) and the citizens. The study has utilized Thomson and Perry’s Antecedents-Process-Outcome Framework (2006) which presents the collaborative process in five dimensions: governance, administration, organizational autonomy, mutuality, and norms of trust and reciprocity. The framework has highlighted the stakeholders of the SALINTUBIG program that operates in the collaborative process. Based on the findings and analysis concluded through the key-informant interviews, surveys, and legal documents from the stakeholders, the collaboration of the national agencies and LGUs of Batangas has been effective in terms of the following: provision, rehabilitation, and enhancement of water supply system; accountability and transparency on the operation; joint decision-making process of the involved institutions; and commitment to the SALINTUBIG program.

The Philippines has enacted several policies to continually elevate the performance of its governance. As such, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) designed a campaign to improve the delivery of services of the different levels of local government units (LGU). A highly urbanized city in the Province of Negros Occidental is a recipient of several recognitions. However, lingering issues such as high incidence of malnutrition, lack of access to potable water, excessive flooding due to drainage and sewerage problems, and several concerns in solid waste management implementation triggered questions on the eligibility of these awards. Thus, this study investigated the level of governance performance of selected barangays in the areas of social services, peace and order, disaster management, and environment management when taken as a whole and grouped according to income and population. Also, it sought to find out if a significant difference exists in the level of governance performance of the barangay councils when they are grouped mentioned demographics.

Applying scientific evidence through risk analysis is an important orientation for the international frameworks that have informed the Philippines’ current food-safety legislation. When implementing this legislation, local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines deal with manifold critical responsibilities using various product-based inspection procedures. This qualitative study was conducted at the end of 2017 with a focus on exploring one LGU’s food service inspection practices. The twofold aim was to find needs in the current food inspection capacity, and to illuminate how risk-based legislation is enacted among LGUs in the Philippines. Taking a discursive approach to help explain and describe the LGU’s practices and needs, the methods included an analysis of administrative documents, focus-group discussions, and observational research. This study explains the LGU’s role in carrying out food agencies’ national responsibilities; it also describes how, if adequate resources were available, new roles could exist for food safety officers and food inspectors. In conclusion, fulfilling the LGU’s needs with respect to national and regional standards would require implementation of a risk-based approach for food inspection.

Housing ensures that everyone in society has a place to live. This study explored the engagement of the Local Government Units (LGUs) in Capiz in the turnover of Yolanda Permanent Housing Projects (YPHP) toward safe and resilient shelter under the Participatory and Capacity Development framework. A descriptive-qualitative approach leaning on intrinsic case study design was utilized. Data collection was through Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions, and observations. The participants were three (3) Municipal Mayors, one (1) NHA Region VI Resettlement and Development Officer, and seven (7) Heads of Offices and Housing Coordinators of LGUs in Capiz. The LGUs’ readiness and acceptance of YPHP were linked to participation, capacitation, and engagement. LGUs participation was in the form of attendance at meetings, consultations, and dialogues. Turnover experiences were in planning, implementation, the administrative capacity of NHA, and stakeholders’ representation and participation. LGUs capacitation and engagement were drawn from the establishment and operationalization of the Local Housing Office and Local Inter-Agency Committee. The findings revealed that LGUs participated minimally, were non-agreeable to housing design, not consulted about the project, “Risgos” or risk-takers occupied the units, beneficiaries selling their units, project transition from the past administration, disagreements on beneficiaries’ listings, and limited NHA manpower. There were social and economic service provisions for beneficiaries like access to food, health, transport, fire, police services, and livelihood projects but no sustainability in economic services. A safe and sustainable shelter foresight framework, which the researcher developed, is recommended for further participation, capacitation, and engagement of the stakeholders in the housing projects.

Transformational leadership shows a strong influence and impact on the relationship with crisis management. Technological innovation is an iterative procedure started by the impression of a new market and/or new service opportunity for a technology-based invention. This study focuses on the effects of a transformational leadership style and technological innovation on crisis management; This hopes to bridge the gap in its application to local government units. The study aimed to examine the effects of a transformational leadership style and technological innovation on crisis management of the different Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Province of La Union. The key informant interviews were delivered among thirty-three (33) respondents, twenty (20) mayors or municipal heads and thirteen (13) board members. With this purpose, the mixed method was employed by combining qualitative and quantitative data gathering procedures using De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats. The findings revealed: (1) the negative effects of being a transformational leader who is technologically innovated in crisis management, (2) the disadvantages of using technology in crisis management, and (3) some of the technological challenges during crisis management. It implies that local government officials need to significantly improve these, especially in the context of transformational leadership style and technological innovation in crisis management. Hence the researcher develops recommendations.

Using a survey questionnaire, this study determined the gender difference in the level of knowledge, awareness and economic valuation of direct uses of mangrove resources among the local community, local government unit (LGU), and Palitakan–a people organization (PO) who takes an active part in the protection and conservation of the Calatagan Mangrove Forest Conservation Park. The study also differentiated the gender roles of the stakeholders in the protection and conservation efforts through focus group discussion (FGD). Gathered data was validated through a key informant interview. Respondents from PO and the local community were men and women, while respondents from LGU were mostly men. Results showed that women from the PO and local community have a very high level of awareness and knowledge of mangrove resources, services, and conservation practises than men. Men from the LGU have higher awareness on conservation practises than women. Since the men from LGU and the men and women from the PO were actively engaged in the protection and conservation efforts in the mangrove park, they were observed to have a very high level of awareness toward mangrove conservation. Both men and women would sell the different mangrove resources at different prices. The knowledge, awareness, and economic valuation of the three important stakeholders on the mangrove conservation park give a better picture on how they value the mangrove forest. There are still mangrove conservation activities exclusively done by men and women of Palitakan. Gender-based conservation provided more significant and sustainable efforts in mangrove education and conservation.

PurposeThe Philippines is among the countries vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. However, many local government units (LGUs) and the people themselves are not aware of the climate change phenomenon and do not have the capacity to undertake appropriate climate change adaptation measures. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the climate change adaptation strategies of communities and LGUs and the barriers and recommendations to enhance their adaptive capacity.Design/methodology/approachThe study covered five communities vulnerable to climate change impacts. Information on extreme climatic events and their impacts and adaptation strategies undertaken were gathered through focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews. LGU staff members were assisted in the preparation of their climate change adaptation plan (CCAP).FindingsThe LGUs and communities have low adaptive capacity and employed temporary adaptation strategies. Strong social cohesion and spontaneous collective action are factors that could enhance the communities' adaptive capacity. The pursuit of awareness raising and capacity building activities on climate change phenomena, alternative livelihood, preparedness and adaptation possibilities, technology and infrastructure development and collective action, which are critical adaptive capacity enhancement factors were laid‐out in the CCAP.Originality/valueThe paper presents the barriers that constrain the adaptive capacity of communities and LGUs, the recommended adaptive capacity enhancement measures to overcome these barriers and the highlights of the CCAP jointly prepared by the partner LGUs and scientists.