MONITORING AND CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES - PRISON CLASSIFICATION PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 46954
• Author(s): B FISHER; S BRODSKY; S CORSE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 50 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Alabama
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF PRISONERS WERE DEVELOPED BY THE PROJECT DURING THE CLASSIFICATION OF ALL INMATES IN ALABAMA IN 1976.

Abstract

THE PRISON CLASSIFICATION PROJECT WAS CONDUCTED BY THE CENTER FOR CORRECTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, IN RESPONSE TO A MANDATE BY A FEDERAL COURT TO THE BOARD OF CORRECTIONS. AS DEFINED BY THE COURT, THE PURPOSE OF CLASSIFICATION IS TO ASSESS AN INMATE'S NEEDS IN THE AREAS OF CUSTODY, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, AND WORK ASSIGNMENTS SO THAT APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE THE INMATE WITH THE KIND OF SKILLS AND TREATMENT THAT WILL PERMIT REHABILITATION AND PREPARATION FOR RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY. DIRECTIVES WERE TO COMPLETE CLASSIFICATION OF A NEW INMATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, NORMALLY WITHIN 15 DAYS, AND EACH PRISONER MUST BE REVIEWED AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 12 MONTHS. THE WHOLE PROCESS MUST BE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL TO THE INMATE PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEW IN WHICH THE INMATE IS PERSONALLY INTERVIEWED BY A MEMBER OF THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF (THE MONITOR). AT SEVERAL STAGES DURING PROCESS THE PRISONER IS ALLOWED TO STATE WHICH CLASSIFICATION ASSIGNMENT SEEMS APPROPRIATE. EVERY INMATE IS ASSIGNED TO A CUSTODY GRADE. INCENTIVE FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR MAY BE GRANTED, AND CONVERSELY, BAD BEHAVIOR WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BY THE CLASSIFICATION BOARD. THE INMATE IS ASSIGNED TO AN INSTITUTION ACCORDING TO FACTORS OF AGE, PRIOR RECORD, INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE, AND AN APPROPRIATE SET OF VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS CONSISTENT WITH THOSE OFFERED BY EACH INSTITUTION. THE AVAILABLE INSTITUTIONS ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. OCCASSIONALLY, INMATES WITH SPECIAL INTERESTS OR NEEDS ARE GIVEN SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS DESIGNED TO FIT THOSE INTERESTS OR NEEDS. MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS ARE MET, INCLUDING SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS FOR THOSE FOUND TO BE MENTALLY RETARDED. PSYCHOTHERAPY AND COUNSELING FOR PERSONAL GROWTH OR DRUG OR ALCOHOL ABUSE, ARE OFFERED, AS ARE ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. MEANINGFUL WORK ASSIGNMENTS ARE ALSO PROVIDED. APPENDED ARE FORMS FOR PRISON CLASSIFICATION ASSIGNMENT, MEDICAL CONSULTATION, AND CHECKLISTS FOR CORRECTIONAL COUNSELORS, VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, AND ESCAPE INFORMATION.