NCJ Number
158130
Date Published
1993
Length
48 pages
Annotation
The effect of the Indiana Department of Corrections classification system on female inmates was examined, with emphasis on the issue of potential overclassification and the specific difficulties that female inmates experience during their incarceration.
Abstract
The classification system was implemented in 1990. Results confirmed the general perception that female inmates commit fewer disciplinary infractions than male counterparts. However, they present several unique levels of need that the Department needs to address. Most inmates who are mothers do not receive visits from their children, usually due to transportation problems and guardians' refusal to bring them. The vast majority of female inmates are uneducated and unskilled. More than half the female inmates have been victims of physical abuse; one-fourth have been victims of sexual abuse. Female inmates also tend to have greater demands than males for medical and psychiatric services. Among both male and female inmates, misconduct is best predicted by age, institutional disciplinary history, drug involvement, probation or parole violations, and scored security level. The classification tends to overclassify female inmates. Its override rate doubles the generally accepted rate of 20 percent, but poor documentation makes it difficult to determine if the Department is using overrides improperly. Recommended changes include adjusting one section of the classification instrument and modification of the database to include precise reasons for overrides. Additional recommendations, classification instrument, and related attachments