Fanning the Flames: Understanding Gang Involvement Among Philippine Prisoners.

Utilizing intensive interview and observational data from inmates in one of the most overcrowded and underresourced jail in Metro Manila, Philippines, this study presents the first in-depth analysis of the factors associated with pangkat (prison gangs) and querna (nongang affiliation) membership. The results suggest that inmates join pangkats to ensure their safety and survival. In contrast, those who remain unaffiliated do so given their negative perceptions of the pangkat, sufficient access to social support, and desire to maintain their preprison identity. Furthermore, these major themes are situated within a modified general strain framework, which integrates traditional models of inmate adjustment, namely, deprivation, importation, and coping perspectives. In light of these findings, several implications for future research and policy are advanced, including the continued application of traditional criminological theories for understanding incarcerated populations and the formal integration of pangkats to jail administration given the lack of current reform strategies for addressing structural and institutional deficiencies.

Putting Out Fires: Understanding the Developmental Nature and Roles of Inmate Gangs in the Philippine Overcrowded Jails.

Utilizing intensive interview data from inmates in one of the most overcrowded and underresourced jails in Metro Manila, Philippines, this article explores the origins and roles of inmate pangkats (a derivative of gangs) in jail management. Responding to institutional deficiencies, such as police misconduct and court case delays, and structural shortages, such as lack of space, operational resources, and personnel, this article investigates how the pangkats supplement jail management and help keep the jail operations afloat. Specifically, this article documents how the pangkats put out fires: their intricate roles in mitigating pains of imprisonment, conflict mediation, order maintenance, and instilling discipline among their members. This article also details the emergence of a give-and-take relationship that develops between and among the pangkats and jail officials that are reflective of the Philippine sociocultural realities. Implications to theory on prison community and policy on gang management in a developing country context are discussed.

Understanding Factors Related to Prolonged Trial of Detained Defendants in the Philippines.

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.

A phenomenological approach to assessing a DUI/DWI program.

In an effort to find a more proactive solution to the problem of drunk driving, a midwestern city has implemented a Driving Under the Influence or Driving While Impaired (DUI/DWI) Court program, a derivative of the popular drug courts. Eligible participants are those who have had two or more drunk-driving offenses but who have not been convicted of a violent offense. Participants volunteer for a 36-week program in exchange for a suspension of their prison sentence. Program elements include drug/alcohol monitoring, support groups, counseling, and extensive supervision. Using a phenomenological approach, this article describes the challenges faced by 20 participants, how they navigated the program requirements, their key realizations about their conditions, and their views on the viability and effectiveness of the program. The article uses qualitative interviews of participants and stakeholders collected for a process evaluation of the DUI program, and official records collected for programming purposes. Findings from this research can be used broadly for programming purposes and can be used by other court jurisdictions that are developing similar programs.