Child Prisoners in the Philippines (international documentary)

Kylie Grey

5 Feb 201617:38

Summary

TLDRIn the Philippines, children as young as nine are jailed alongside adults for minor offenses. The overcrowded Sabu City prison houses 1,800 inmates, including children who suffer from lack of basic amenities and are at risk of abuse. Esperanza Valena, an 84-year-old lawyer, offers pro bono representation, while her daughter Nina runs educational programs to help these children. Despite laws against mixing minors with adults in prison, children are left vulnerable, and many are re-incarcerated after release, highlighting a dire need for juvenile detention centers and educational support.

Takeaways

🇵🇭 In the Philippines, children as young as nine can be charged and convicted of criminal offenses.
👨‍👧‍👦 Thousands of children are incarcerated in adult prisons for minor crimes.
👦 Tommy, an 11-year-old, has been to prison three times, with his first incarceration at age eight.
🏭 In the southern Philippines, political unrest and economic instability lead to children seeking work and becoming addicted to substances.
👨‍👦 Danny, nine, was jailed with his brother and friend for stealing six cans of sardines.
🌆 Fore City prison, designed for 200, now houses 1,800 prisoners, with no segregation between adults and minors.
👵 Esparanza Valena, an 84-year-old lawyer, offers pro bono representation to children in Sabu City prison.
🚫 It's illegal to jail children with adults in the Philippines, but authorities circumvent this by housing them in separate cells with open doors at night.
💧 Prisoners get water to wash only when it rains, highlighting the harsh conditions.
📚 Twice a week, children in Sabu City prison are allowed to attend a literacy program run by the Shar child movement.
🏡 The Valena family has helped educate over 3,000 children to keep them out of jail, focusing on the brightest and poorest.
🔄 Despite his release, Tommy returned to prison for stealing three months after being freed.

Q & A

What is the minimum age at which children can be charged with a criminal offense in the Philippines?
-Children as young as nine years old can be charged and convicted of a criminal offense in the Philippines.
How old was Tommy when he first went to prison?
-Tommy was eight years old when he spent his first night in prison.
What are some of the reasons children in the southern Philippines end up in prison?
-In the southern Philippines, political unrest and economic instability force children to leave their homes in search of work, leading some to become addicted to substances like glue or shaboo, a derivative of cocaine.
What was the original capacity of the Fore City prison?
-Fore City prison was originally constructed to house 200 prisoners.
How many prisoners does Fore City prison currently contain?
-Fore City prison now contains 1,800 prisoners.
What is the main issue with the prison mentioned in the script?
-The main issue is the lack of segregation between adults and minors, with some adults charged with heinous crimes like rape, robbery, and murder.
Who is Esparanza Valena and what does she do for the children in Sabu City prison?
-Esparanza Valena is an 84-year-old grandmother and lawyer who offers free legal representation to children in Sabu City prison.
What is the term used to describe the environment in the prison that influences children to commit more crimes?
-The prison is referred to as the 'University of Crime' due to its influence on children to commit more crimes.
How does the Shar child movement help children in Sabu City prison?
-The Shar child movement runs a literacy program twice a week, allowing children to leave their cells and learn, with the aim of helping them adjust to life in the community and potentially become assets.
What is the Valen family's approach to keeping children out of jail?
-The Valen family believes in educating children to keep them out of jail, focusing on the brightest and the poorest by assessing their intelligence and home conditions.
What happened to Tommy after he was released from prison?
-Three months after being released from prison, Tommy was caught stealing and returned to prison, where he is being minded by an uncle in one of the adult cells.
What is the status of the juvenile detention center in Sabu City?
-Plans for a juvenile detention center in Sabu City were approved a decade ago, but due to lack of funds, the building is still not finished.

Outlines

00:00

🏭 'Children in Prisons: A Glimpse into the Philippines'

The video script discusses the plight of children in the Philippines who can be charged and convicted of criminal offenses, with many ending up in adult prisons for minor crimes. It introduces Tommy, an 11-year-old who has been in prison three times, with his first night in prison at the age of eight. The script highlights the issues of political unrest and economic instability in the southern Philippines, which force children to leave their homes in search of work, leading to addiction and imprisonment. It also describes Sabu City prison, which was built for 200 but now houses 1,800 prisoners, with no segregation between adults and minors, leading to a situation where children are exposed to hardened criminals. The narrative also introduces Esparanza Valena, an 84-year-old lawyer who offers hope to these children by representing them in court.

05:01

🚫 'Illegal Detention of Children and the Fight for Justice'

This paragraph focuses on the illegal practice of detaining children with adults in the Philippines, despite laws against it. Local authorities circumvent the law by housing children in separate cells, but these cells are not secure, leaving the children vulnerable at night. The script describes the harsh conditions in which these children live, such as waiting for rainwater to wash, and contrasts this with the situation in Sabu City prison, where children are allowed to attend a literacy program twice a week. Esparanza Valena and her daughter Nina, who runs the Shara Child Movement, are highlighted as key figures in educating and advocating for these children, aiming to keep them out of jail by providing education and support.

10:02

🏡 'Reintegration and the Struggle to Escape the Cycle'

The script follows Tommy's release from prison after serving a 4-month sentence and his return to his mother's home on the outskirts of Sabu City. It captures the tension between Tommy's parents regarding his future. Despite plans for a juvenile detention center in Sabu City, a lack of funds has left the project unfinished, and Tommy, like many other juveniles, remains at risk of reoffending. The narrative also touches on the broader issue of around 9,000 juveniles detained in adult prisons throughout the Philippines.

15:43

🔁 'The Relapse: Back to Prison'

Three months after his release, Tommy is caught stealing again and returns to prison, this time under the supervision of an uncle in one of the adult cells. The script ends on a somber note, reflecting the challenges faced by children like Tommy in breaking the cycle of crime and imprisonment.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Philippines

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian country made up of numerous islands. In the context of the video, it is highlighted as a place where children as young as nine can be charged with criminal offenses and jailed, indicating a significant issue with the juvenile justice system.

💡Criminal Offense

A criminal offense is an act that is prohibited by law and for which someone can be arrested and tried in a court. The video discusses how children in the Philippines can be charged and convicted of criminal offenses, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

💡Adult Prisons

Adult prisons are correctional facilities designed for adults. The video script reveals a concerning reality where children are jailed in adult prisons in the Philippines, which poses a significant risk to their safety and well-being.

💡Political Unrest

Political unrest refers to a situation of public dissatisfaction or disorder due to issues with governance. In the video, southern Philippines is mentioned as an area experiencing political unrest, which contributes to the economic instability and forces children to leave their homes in search of work.

💡Economic Instability

Economic instability is a condition where there is significant fluctuation in economic factors such as employment, inflation, and investment. The video suggests that economic instability in the Philippines is one of the factors pushing children into poverty and crime.

💡Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including drugs like glue or cocaine. The script mentions that children become addicted to substances like 'sneak in glue' or 'shaboo', highlighting a serious social issue that leads to criminal behavior.

💡Juvenile Detention

Juvenile detention refers to the confinement of juveniles who are accused or have been adjudicated delinquent. The video discusses the lack of juvenile detention centers in the Philippines, which forces authorities to house children in adult facilities, violating the law.

💡Overcrowding

Overcrowding is a situation where there are too many people or things in a confined space. The video script describes a prison originally designed for 200 prisoners now housing 1,800, illustrating the extreme overcrowding that exacerbates the problems within the facility.

💡Segregation

Segregation in a prison context refers to the separation of different groups of inmates, such as adults and minors, to ensure safety and order. The video points out the lack of segregation between adults and minors in the prisons, which poses a significant risk to the children's safety.

💡Rehabilitation Center

A rehabilitation center is a facility designed to help individuals recover and reintegrate into society. The video mentions a place called 'New Life Rehabilitation Center', which is supposed to be a place for rehabilitation but is criticized for its conditions and practices.

💡Pro Bono

Pro bono refers to professional services provided voluntarily and without payment as a public service. The video introduces a lawyer, Esparanza Valena, who offers pro bono legal representation to children in prison, underscoring the lack of legal support for these vulnerable individuals.

💡Literacy Program

A literacy program is an educational initiative aimed at improving reading and writing skills. The video mentions a literacy program run by the Shar child movement, which is an effort to provide education and a better future for children in prison.

Highlights

In the Philippines, children as young as nine can be charged and convicted of criminal offenses.

Thousands of children are jailed in adult prisons for minor crimes.

Tommy, aged 11, is in prison for the third time, with his first night in prison at age eight.

Political unrest and economic instability in the southern Philippines is forcing children to leave their homes in search of work.

Many children become addicted to inhaling glue or 'shaboo', a derivative of cocaine.

Danny, aged nine, is in jail with his brother and friend after stealing six cans of sardines.

The Fore City prison was built for 200 prisoners but now contains 1,800.

There is no segregation between adults and minors in the jail, leading to a 'University of Crime'.

Esparanza Valena, an 84-year-old lawyer, offers free legal representation to children in Sabu City prison.

It is against the law to jail children with adults in the Philippines, but there are virtually no juvenile detention centers.

Children in Sabu City prison are scared to sleep for fear of being raped.

The Shar child movement runs a literacy program for the children in Sabu City prison.

The Valena family has helped educate over 3,000 children from the Sabu slums.

The Valena family believes education is key to keeping children out of jail.

Tommy plans to return to his mother's home on the outskirts of Sabu City after his release.

Tommy's parents argue about their son's future two days before his release.

Tommy is released after serving a 4-month sentence but is caught stealing again and returns to prison.