Question & AnswerQ&A (DepEd Order No. 18)
The main purpose is to provide guidelines and procedures for the management of Children-at-Risk and Children in Conflict with the Law in schools and community learning centers, ensuring their protection, prevention of juvenile delinquency, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
A CICL is a child under 18 years old who is alleged, accused, or adjudged to have committed an offense under Philippine laws.
A CAR is a child vulnerable to self-harm or harm to others or at risk of coming into conflict with the law due to personal, family, or social circumstances such as abuse, neglect, exploitation, gang membership, truancy, or status offenses.
Rights include protection from torture, separation from adult offenders, prompt legal assistance, privacy, diversion, proportionate judgment, suspension of sentence, probation, and respect for inherent dignity and age-specific needs.
The CPC coordinates juvenile justice and welfare efforts, oversees restorative justice procedures, conducts family group conferencing, and supports intervention plans for CAR and CICL in the school setting.
Primary (general preventive measures), Secondary (preventive and protective interventions tailored to CAR), and Tertiary (remedial interventions focused on CICL, including diversion and rehabilitation).
Restorative justice involves resolving conflicts through the involvement of victim, offender, and community to achieve reparation, reconciliation, reintegration, and enhance public safety.
The school head/principal must immediately report the case to law enforcement, notify the child's parents and LSWDO, explain circumstances to the child, complete the CICL Intake Form, and transfer custody to appropriate authorities.
Records are kept confidential, under custody of the guidance counselor or teacher, and released only with written consent of the child and parents or by court order. Unauthorized disclosure constitutes an administrative offense.
Schools must coordinate with the MDT and relevant agencies to provide appropriate education through alternative learning systems or other modalities ensuring the CICL’s continued right to education.