Title Page
Abstract
Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction 9
1.1. Background of the Study 9
1.2. Statement of the Problem 17
1.3. Objective / Significance of the Study 17
1.4. Scope and Limitation 19
Chapter 2. Review of Related Literature 20
2.1. Jail and Corrections Congestion 20
2.2. Court Proceedings 22
2.3. Access to Justice 23
2.4. Challenges and opportunities 25
Chapter 3. Research Hypothesis and Methodology 27
3.1. Analytical Framework 27
3.2. Research Questions and Hypotheses 28
3.3. Data 28
3.4. Methodology 29
Chapter 4. Results and Discussions 31
4.1. PAO Regional Offices Data 31
4.2. Trends Pre-Covid and During Covid 34
4.3. Social Distancing Rules 44
4.4. Hypothesis Testing 48
4.4.1. Hypothesis 1: The COVID-19 pandemic caused further delays in the resolution of cases handled by the Public Attorney's Office. 50
4.4.2. Hypothesis 2: The COVID-19 pandemic caused problems with indigent clients' access to justice, courts and lawyers due to the imposition of measures for its containment. 50
4.5. PAO Lawyer's perspectives 54
4.5.1. Work interruption during lockdown 54
4.5.2. Shift to digitalization 55
4.5.3. Prevalence of specific cases 59
Chapter 5. Conclusion and Recommendations 60
5.1. Conclusion 60
5.1.1. Disposition of Cases 60
5.1.2. Access to Justice 61
5.2. Recommendations 62
5.3. Limitations of the Study and Recommendations for Future Research 65
Bibliography 66
국문초록 73
Table 1. PAO Regional Offices Data 32
Table 2. Quarantine Levels Implemented in the Philippines 45
Table 3. Quarantine Levels Imposed by month per region from March 2020-December 2021 47
Table 4. T-test results comparing the terminated cases during the different levels of community quarantine 47
Table 5. T-test results comparing the new cases received during the different levels of community quarantine 48
Table 6.1. T-test Results on the Terminated Cases 50
Table 6.2. T-test Results on the Newly Accepted Cases 50
Table 6.3. Summary of Hypotheses Tests 51
Table 7.1.1. T-test Results on the Terminated Cases in Luzon 51
Table 7.1.2. T-test Results on the New Cases in Luzon 51
Table 7.2.1. T-test Results on the Terminated Cases in Visayas 52
Table 7.2.2. T-test Results on the New Cases in Visayas 52
Table 7.3.1. T-test Results on the Terminated Cases in Mindanao 53
Table 7.3.2. T-test Results on the New Cases in Mindanao 53
Figure 1. The Philippine Criminal Justice Process 11
Figure 2. Analytical Framework on the Impact of Covid-19 on the Disposition of Criminal Cases Handled by PAO and Access to Justice 27
Figure 3.1. New Criminal Cases Handled by the Public Attorney's Office in the Luzon Island from January 2018-December 2021 34
Figure 3.2. New Criminal Cases Handled by the Public Attorney's Office in the Visayas Island from January 2018-December 2021 35
Figure 3.3. New Criminal Cases Handled by the Public Attorney's Office in the Mindanao Island from January 2018-December 2021 37
Figure 4.1. Terminated Criminal Cases Handled by the Public Attorney's Office in the Luzon Island from January 2018-December 2021 38
Figure 4.2. Terminated Criminal Cases Handled by the Public Attorney's Office in the Visayas Island from January 2018-December 2021 39
Figure 4.3. Terminated Criminal Cases Handled by the Public Attorney's Office in the Mindanao Island from January 2018-December 2021 41
Figure 5.1. Certain Types of Criminal Cases Handled by PAO in 2018-2021 42
Figure 5.2. Drugs Cases Handled by PAO in 2018-2021 43
Figure 5.3. Violence Against Women and Children Cases Handled by PAO in 2018-2021 44