Law Summary
State Policy
- Recognizes the role of criminology in national security and development.
- Aims to nurture competent, ethical, and globally competitive criminologists.
- Implements credible licensure exams and ongoing professional development.
Objectives
- Governs examination, registration, licensure, and practice supervision.
- Standardizes criminology education.
- Develops professional competence through Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
- Integrates and accredits professional criminology groups.
Definitions
- "APO": Accredited Professional Organization, the integrated national criminology organization approved by PRC.
- "Board": Professional Regulatory Board for Criminologists.
- "CHED": Commission on Higher Education responsible for criminology education policy.
- "Commission": Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
- "Criminology": Scientific study of crimes, criminals, victims, prevention, and solution.
- "Profession": Art and science of criminology practice.
- "Registered criminologist": Person with valid registration and professional identification card.
Scope of Practice
- Practice includes roles in law enforcement agencies like PNP, NBI, PDEA, BFP, BJMP, BUCOR, PPA, BIR, BoC, BSP, intelligence agencies, private security.
- Teaching criminology subjects in government-recognized schools.
- Scientific crime detection and investigation specialties.
- Correctional and rehabilitation administration.
- Professional counseling, consulting, research related to criminology.
- Private investigation work.
- Board may revise scope to reflect current trends.
Professional Regulatory Board for Criminologists
- Composed of Chairperson and four members appointed by the President from nominees endorsed by APO and PRC.
- Members must be Filipino citizens, of good moral character, registered criminologists with postgraduate degrees or lawyers, with at least 10 years experience including teaching.
- Term is three years, maximum two terms.
- Receive compensation comparable with other PRC boards.
Powers and Duties of the Board
- Administers licensure exams, registration, and supervision of practice.
- Receives complaints on malpractice and unethical conduct.
- Issues rules, regulations, and ethical codes.
- Adopts official seal and CPD guidelines.
- Prepares syllabi and examination questions.
- Issues, suspends, revokes, reinstates certificates and permits.
- Conducts investigations and hearings of violations.
- Monitors schools and recommends sanctions.
- Prepares annual reports.
- Board decisions on administrative cases can be appealed to the Commission.
Removal and Suspension Grounds for Board Members
- Gross neglect, dishonesty, incompetence.
- Commission of offenses including criminal and ethical violations.
- Manipulation or rigging of licensure exams.
- Conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude.
Supervision and Support
- Board under administrative supervision of the PRC.
- PRC provides secretary and support services.
Licensure Examination
- Prerequisite for registration unless otherwise provided.
- Applicants must be Filipino or foreign nationals from reciprocal countries, good moral character, hold accredited criminology degree, no conviction of moral turpitude crimes.
- Those failing five times must complete a refresher course.
Examination Subjects and Requirements
- Subjects: Criminal Jurisprudence & Procedure, Law Enforcement Administration, Crime Detection & Investigation, Criminalistics, Correctional Administration, Criminal Sociology.
- Passing: Weighted average 75% and no grade below 60% in any subject.
- Deferred examinees must retake failed subjects within two years with required scores.
- Board may change subjects or introduce practical exams.
Teaching Qualifications for Examination Subjects
- Must be registered criminologists with valid certificates, APO membership, CPD units, and meet other CHED requirements.
- Allied fields allowed if deemed appropriate.
Certification and Registration
- Certificates issued upon passing licensure exam and payment of fees.
- Valid until withdrawn, suspended, or revoked.
- Professional identification cards renewed every 3 years with CPD compliance.
Refusal, Revocation, and Suspension
- Refusal for convicted criminals, immoral conduct, unsound mind.
- Grounds for revocation: violation of law, fraud, incompetence, nonrenewal, aiding illegal practice, addiction, noncompliance with CPD.
- Investigations guided by PRC rules.
- Reinstatement possible after minimum 2 years with justification.
Automatic Registration
- Pre-existing registered criminologists automatically registered under this Act subject to future requirements.
Practice of Criminology
- Authorized persons include registered criminologists, and juridical persons (e.g. partnerships, corporations) majority owned by registered criminologists.
- Seal use exclusive to registered practitioners.
- Foreigners allowed if reciprocity proven.
- Temporary permits for foreign experts and exchange professors, with conditions and limits.
Document Requirements
- Certificates, tax receipts, APO membership numbers must be indicated in criminology-related documents.
Roster and Integration
- Board maintains updated roster of registered criminologists.
- Integration into a single accredited national organization with automatic membership for registered criminologists.
Privileges of Registered Criminologists
- Exempt from government qualifying exams and considered civil service eligible for specified positions in law enforcement, investigation, corrections, fire service, among others.
- Priority appointment in various government agencies related to criminology and law enforcement.
- Eligible for lateral entry to law enforcement and correctional services under existing qualifications.
Penal Provisions
- Penalties include fines (P100,000 to P500,000), imprisonment (2 years 1 day to 6 years), or both for:
- Illegal practice without registration/permit
- Fraudulent use of documents and impersonation
- Abetting illegal practice
- Securing registration fraudulently
- Corporate officers held liable for violations by juridical persons.
Enforcement and Appropriations
- Board assisted by PRC, APO, government agencies, and industry organizations.
- PRC Chairperson to include Act implementation in Commission programs with appropriations in the General Appropriations Act.
Transitory and Implementing Rules
- Incumbent Board continues temporarily until new Board organized.
- Board to issue Implementing Rules and Regulations within 90 days of effectivity.
Separability and Repealing Clauses
- Invalidity of any provision does not affect the rest.
- Repeals RA 6506 and inconsistent laws, rules, or regulations.