NCJ Number
185323
Journal
Corrections Management Quarterly Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: Fall 2000 Pages: 45-59
Date Published
2000
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the development and validation of a parole classification system for the Parole and Community Services Division of the California Department of Corrections.
Abstract
A section on issues in classification and risk assessment discusses the goals and objectives of parole, reduction in fear of crime, types of risk assessment, and the concept of stakes and harm. Also discussed in the first section of the article are static, dynamic, and environmental factors and workload-sensitive classification instruments. The authors then describe the development of the classification instrument. The data collection instrument was constructed from multiple sources. It included variables from the institutional databases, items identified in other research reports, and items suggested from interviews with parole agents and administrators. A narrative presents a combination of the model development and the results achieved. The steps described are locating predictor variables, developing risk probabilities, assigning weights for classification, and adding the concept of stakes. At the end of the fourth step, a fully adjustable model is completed that allows a combination of classification, supervision, and workload considerations. Changes to the model only require the use of new risk probability breakpoints. 7 tables, 14 references, and 14 notes