Lives of Former Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) during their Rehabilitation under Therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP)

Abstract

Over 65 countries worldwide offer Therapeutic Communities (TCs) for the rehabilitation and treatment of Persons Deprived of Liberty, a testament to the prevalence of drug misuse, addiction, and other criminal activity worldwide (Bunt et al., 2008). This study explored the experiences of former Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in the Therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP) implemented in the Regional Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 6 (RBJMP6), Province of Iloilo through a qualitative research method. The participants of this study were the selected ten (10) former male PDLs who participated in the TCMP from different jail facilities in Iloilo. All participants were subjected to an individual in-depth interview. The findings of this study are described in emergent themes. Seven (7) emergent themes described the positive and negative experiences of the participants during their participation in the TCMP. For the positive experiences, four (4) emergent themes were developed, namely: Fostering Personal Growth and Behavior Change, Continuing Educational Pursuits, Strong Sense of Collectiveness, and Acquiring Practical Skills for Livelihood. For the negative experiences, three (3) emergent themes were also developed: Emotional Struggles During Adjustment, Overcrowding Issues and Limited Facilities, and Restrictions and Limitations of TC Rules. Meanwhile, two (2) emergent themes were formulated to explain how the participants cope with the challenges encountered during their participation in the TCMP, namely, Seeking Guidance and Support from Peers and Personnel and Building Emotional Resilience and Faith. On the other hand, two (2) emergent themes were formulated to explain the impacts of the TCMP on the lives of the participants, namely, Enhanced Relationships and Communication Skills and Instilling Discipline and Patience. Finally, two (2) emergent themes were created to express the aspirations of the participants to improve the implementation of TCMP, to wit: Enhancing Livelihood and Educational Programs and Supporting Religious and Spiritual Activities. Based on the emergent themes identified, it is recommended that the former PDLs be provided with a more comprehensive aftercare program for a more extensive rehabilitation process.