INMATE CLASSIFICATION - SECURITY/CUSTODY CONSIDERATIONS

• NCJ Number: 60273
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 43 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 37-43
• Author(s): R B LEVINSON; J D WILLIAMS
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Administrative Office of the United States Courts
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON EFFORTS BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS (BOP) TO STRUCTURE SECURITY AND CUSTODY CONSIDERATIONS IN INMATE CLASSIFICATION DECISIONS IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

AWARE OF SHORTCOMINGS IN ITS CLASSIFICATION APPROACH, THE BUREAU ESTABLISHED A TASK FORCE TO SCRUTINIZE CLASSIFICATION PRACTICES. THE TASK FORCE BEGAN BY DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN SECURITY (THE TYPE OF PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS APPROPRIATE FOR A PARTICULAR INMATE) AND CUSTODY (THE LEVEL OF STAFF SUPERVISION REQUIRED BY A PRISONER). METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE SECURITY-LEVEL REQUIREMENT OF EACH NEWLY ADMITTED PRISONER (BASED ON HISTORY OF ESCAPES, HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, TYPE OF DETAINER, SEVERITY OF CURRENT OFFENSE, EXPECTED LENGTH OF INCARCERATION, AND TYPE OF PRIOR COMMITMENT) AND FOR IDENTIFYING THE SECURITY LEVEL OF EACH BOP FACILITY (BASED ON TYPE OF PERIMETER SECURITY, TOWERS, EXTERNAL PATROL, DETECTION DEVICES, SECURITY OF HOUSING AREAS, TYPE OF LIVING QUARTERS, AND STAFFING LEVEL) WERE DEVELOPED. A PROCEDURE FOR USING THE METHODS TO MATCH INMATES WITH INSTITUTIONS, WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE VARIABLES (E.G. INMATE POPULATION AGE PROFILE AND RACIAL BALANCE, OVERCROWDING, JUDICIAL RECOMMENDATIONS) WAS CREATED. THE TASK FORCE ALSO DEVELOPED A SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CUSTODY FOR INMATES WITHIN INSTITUTIONS, ESTABLISHING SCHEDULES FOR FORMAL REVIEWS OF CUSTODY LEVELS, AND MOVING INMATES SYSTEMATICALLY THROUGH LEVELS OF CUSTODY. THE SYSTEM INVOLVES ASSIGNING INMATES TO ONE OF FOUR LEVELS OF CUSTODY (MAXIMUM, IN, OUT, COMMUNITY) ON THE BASIS OF THE PREINCARCERATION CRITERIA USED IN THE SECURITY-LEVEL ASSESSMENT, PLUS SIX POSTINCARCERATION CRITERIA (PERCENTAGE OF TIME SERVED, DRUG OR ALCOHOL ABUSE, PSYCHOLOGICAL STATUS, DISCIPLINARY REPORTS, DEMONSTRATION OF RESPONSIBILITY, AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY TIES). SIMULATIONS AND PILOT TESTS OF THE SECURITY AND CUSTODY CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURES DEVELOPED BY THE TASK FORCE HAVE PRODUCED PROMISING RESULTS. DETAILS OF THE PROCEDURES AND PRELIMINARY TEST RESULTS ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)