Title
Philippine Criminology Profession Act
Law
Republic Act No. 11131
Decision Date
Nov 8, 2018
Republic Act No. 11131 establishes a comprehensive framework for the regulation and professionalization of the criminology profession, including licensure, education standards, and the creation of a Professional Regulatory Board to oversee ethical practices and continuing development in the field.

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.

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