Analysis of the Arizona Department of Corrections Offender Classification System

• NCJ Number: 124405
• Author(s): J Austin; P Litsky; R A Buchanan
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 100 pages
• Contract Number(s): 0477
• Sponsoring Agency: Arizona Office of the Auditor General
• Corporate Author: Carter Ctr; Correctional Services Group, Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis of the system used by the Arizona Department of Corrections to classify inmates concludes that the Department tends to overclassify inmates at their initial classification, particularly regarding medium custody.

Abstract

The research used the Federal Prison System Custody Determination instrument with a sample of the Arizona inmate population to simulate the classification process. The simulation showed that 59 percent of the Arizona inmates were assigned to medium custody, compared to only 21 percent using the Federal model. The Department assigned only 13 percent to minimum custody, compared to the 47 percent suggested by the Federal model. However, moderate underclassification occurred for maximum custody. Approximately 26 percent of the sample was initially assessed as maximum custody, compared to more than 30 percent under the Federal model. The main reason for the high number of medium-custody assignments appears to be the large number of medium custody housing units in the Arizona system. Results indicate the need for more minimum and maximum security beds and the use of an objective classification system. Additional recommendations, tables, figures, and appended Arizona classification codebook and related materials.