Judicial System and Court Organization

Judicial System

• A judge is a public officer appointed to preside over and administer law in a court.
• Judicial independence is the freedom of courts to settle legal disputes impartially, without interference from the executive or legislative branches.
• Judicial review is the power of courts, primarily the Supreme Court, to interpret the constitution and deem legislative or executive acts invalid if they conflict with fundamental law.

Court Organization

• Regular courts include Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts.
  • Their jurisdiction includes violations of city/municipal ordinances and offenses punishable by imprisonment of up to 6 years.
• Regional Trial Courts have jurisdiction over criminal cases not under the exclusive purview of other courts, including appellate jurisdiction over cases from lower courts.
• Court of Appeals has jurisdiction to issue writs, review decisions of Regional Trial Courts, and quasi-judicial agencies.
• The Supreme Court has supreme appellate jurisdiction, reviews decisions of lower courts, and handles cases involving ambassadors and public officials.
• Special Courts include the Court of Tax Appeals (for tax-related matters), and the Sandiganbayan (for cases of corruption involving government officials).
• Sharia Courts have limited jurisdiction over Muslim-related cases.

Quasi-Judicial Agencies

• Quasi-judicial bodies, unlike regular courts, do not have judicial power but exercise quasi-judicial power in aid of administrative functions.
• Examples include the National Labor Relations Commission, Civil Service Commission, Commission on Elections, and Commission on Audit.

Time Limits for Decisions

• Supreme Court decisions take a maximum of 24 months.
• Court of Appeals and other appellate courts have a 12-month deadline, unless the Supreme Court reduces it.
• Lower courts must render decisions within 3 months.

Corrections

• Corrections is a branch of the criminal justice system responsible for custody, supervision, and rehabilitation of convicted offenders.
• It also involves jail or prison management and administration.
• Several agencies share responsibilities in jail administration:
  • Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR): National prisons and penal farms
  • Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP): City, municipal, and district jails
  • Provincial Governments: Provincial and sub-provincial jails
  • Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD): Juvenile offenders

Parole and Pardons

• Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) and the Board of Pardons and Parole both operate under the Department of Justice.

Schools of Criminology

• Classical School: Criminal acts are the result of free will and conscious decisions. Offenders understand rights, wrongs, and consequences. Punishment must fit the crime as a deterrent.
• Neo-Classical School: Recognizes exceptions to the Classical School's rules, particularly for children and mentally incapacitated individuals.
• Positivist/Italian School: Criminals are considered mentally ill who need treatment instead of punishment.

Purposes of Punishment

• Retribution: Punishment is deserved by offenders.
• Expiation/Atonement: Punishment appeased the offended party.
• Deterrence: Punishment deters potential offenders.
• Incapacitation/Protection: Keeping offenders confined protects the public.
• Reformation/Rehabilitation: Rehabilitating offenders to become law-abiding citizens.

Classification of Prisoners

• Detention prisoners: Detained for investigation, preliminary hearing or awaiting trial.

• Sentenced prisoners: Convicted and serving sentences.

• Safekeeping prisoners: Detained due to harmful behavior (mentally ill, insane).

• Insular/National prisoners: Sentenced to over three years.

• Provincial prisoners: Sentenced to 6 months to 3 years.

• City prisoners: Sentenced to 1 day to 3 years (could also be those in MTC).

• Municipal prisoners: Sentenced to 1 day to 6 months.

Institutionalized Treatment Programs

• Prison education: Training for good conduct.
• Work programs: Fosters moral values, and practical skills, preventing prison riots.
• Religious services: Encourages positive attitudes.
• Recreational programs: Conducted during free time.
• Medical and health services: Exam, diagnostics, treatments.
• Counseling and Casework: Support to rehabilitate.

Release Modes

• Service of sentence
• Court order
• Parole
• Pardon
• Amnesty

Community Pillar

• The community pillar is the work with private persons, groups, and entities.
• Its aims are to deter crime, limit criminal behavior, help convicts reintegrate into society.
• Key social institutions in this pillar include family, school, media, churches, and other non-government groups.