Capitol, USC forge deal for inmate profile system

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Government has entered into an agreement with the University of San Carlos (USC) in developing the Inmate Profiling System (IPS) of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide signed the five-page Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the USC that was represented by their University President Fr. Dionisio Miranda.

In the agreement, the USC, through its Community Extension Service, will help the CPDRC in developing the profiling system of inmates.

With the help of the students and faculty members of the College of Law and Department of Computer and Information Sciences of USC, who will work in the development of the IPS, the existing paper-based records of inmates in CPDRC will be transformed to digital and automated files.

“(It) includes the management of the inmates and detainees’ cases vis-à-vis legal regulations governing detention, hearing schedules and release. (The) University will provide an opportunity to get data on who are overstaying in the facility,” said Brenette Abrenica, Director for Community Extension Service.

The assistance given by USC aims to decongest the facility with about 2,800 current inmate population.

Abrenica is hopeful that they will facilitate the release of overstaying inmates in the provincial jail.

Under the MOA, the Capitol will designate personnel for the implementation of the said profiling system inside the jail facility, which includes the assistance and cooperation of the personnel in CPDRC and providing necessary hardware needed to run for the system.

Meanwhile, the USC’s role will be on extending professional or academic expertise and providing technical equipment to the CPDRC for the initial roll out, maintaining and upgrading of the system.

“Collaborate with the First Party (Capitol) as to the enhancement of the System including the integration to the System of biometrics in recording and verification of inmates or detainees and visitors, and the provision of additional function to store scanned inmates or detainee related documents for reference,” read the USC obligation under the MOA.

Currently, the CPDRC is now working on its biometric system for profiling of inmates and their guests.

The assistance of the university will help in determining who among those inmates are overstaying and/or who remain jailed for failure to pay a meager amount of penalty.

“Naay daghan diha nga wa kasugat og hearing, case had been delayed for years already or ang iyang sentencia supposed to be is penalty of P1,000, pero wa mapagawas.  So, these are the nuances that the system will provide information,” said Abrenica.

Some of the inmates inside the CPDRC are overstaying, which contributes to the congestion inside the jail facility. (FREEMAN)