DEVELOPING GUIDELINES FOR CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT DECISIONS

• NCJ Number: 52621
• Journal: OFFENDER REHABILITATION Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (SUMMER 1978) Pages: 371-381
• Author(s): L J HIPPCHEN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION, PORTLAND, OREGON, AUGUST 23, 1978

Annotation

FIVE SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES TO THE EFFECTIVE USE OF OFFENDER CLASSIFICATION ARE DISCUSSED, AND SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS.

Abstract

FOLLOWING A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES FOR OFFENDER CLASSIFICATION, FIVE OBSTACLES TO THE EFFECTIVE USE OF CLASSIFICATION ARE DISCUSSED. THE OBSTACLES CONSIDERED ARE PHILOSOPHY CONFLICTS, ORGANIZATIONAL PROBLEMS, STAFFING AND PROCEDURAL PROBLEMS, GOAL CONFLICTS, AND ASSESSMENT PROBLEMS. THE PRINCIPAL OBSTACLE IN PHILOSOPHY LIES IN THE PERSISTENCE OF THE PUNITIVE APPROACH TO CORRECTIONS WHEN THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO A TREATMENT ORIENTATION. THE DOMINATION OF ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES AND OPERATIONS BY ADMINISTRATIVELY-ORIENTED RATHER THAN TREATMENT-ORIENTED PERSONNEL FREQUENTLY LEADS TO A LOW PRIORITY USE OF CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT. THE TRAINING AND FUNCTIONING OF THE PRISON STAFF, ALONG WITH THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT, OFTEN FAIL TO SERVE THE END OF TREATMENT AND THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. IN ADDITION TO THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CUSTODIAL AND TREATMENT CORRECTIONS PHILOSOPHIES, VARYING DEFINITIONS OF GOALS IN TREATMENT ALSO THWART THE EFFECTIVE USE OF CLASSIFICATION. THE LACK OF ADEQUATE METHODS FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF PARTICULAR CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT APPROACHES IS ALSO CONSIDERED DEBILITATING. THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS ARE DISCUSSED AS AIDS IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS: DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFERENT CLASSFICATION MODELS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRISONERS; DEVELOPMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC MODELS RELEVANT TO PROGRAMMING DECISIONS FOR EACH CLASSIFICATION MODEL; DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES FOR MEASURING THE IMPACT OF THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT ON CORRECTIONAL GOALS; AND DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH TO AID IN PROGNOSTIC AND PREDICTION DECISIONS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)