Classification within the prison facility refers to the process of placing offenders in one of the various inmate custody levels based on some rational idea or criteria. During the last one decade, considerable attention has been accorded to the classification of detainees. Such classification is determined by a set of well-articulated legal factors like the magnitude of the offense, criminal record, and personal characteristics that help guide the decision-making.
In this respect, prison classification helps assess prisoner risks to balance confinement requirements that are in line with the program needs. The principal rationale for classification is that offenders are not all the same. The reason is because they differ from each other in not only the severity of the crime, but also in the objectives behind committing the crime. Thus, the classification must be conducted while considering the needs of every offender as distinct (Siegel & Bartollas, 2014).
Various purposes make classification inevitable in the prison systems, and include the need to screen the offender for confinement or release after the hearing. Second, it helps correction specialists to determine the most suitable placement for the offender. Finally, it establishes the appropriate needs of incarcerated offenders. Crime committed, level of education, social background, prior crimes, work history, age, and gender are some of the key predictors that guide the placement procedure.
Based on these criteria, the prison classification specialists are in a position to assign the offender the most suitable custody supervision. Following admission, processing and assessing commences, determining their medical and mental state is conducted to support the individual profile for each offender concerning his/her program needs. For instance, in the Alabama Department of Corrections the Central Classification Division referred to as the Central Review Board (CRB) conducts this procedure. During the classification, a detainee is put under the suitable custody and the supervision level.
During the 20th century, classification systems changed hugely, and corrections took a different shape that gave way to reform and rehabilitation as the primary goal. Currently, correctional standards in Alabama are swiftly adopting to objective models as opposed to subjective models. Subjective approaches seem to assume informal procedures that in many cases cause inefficiency and unreliable decisions. Contrary, objective models rely on a focused set of well-articulated legal parameters.
Objective models often emphasize on consistency, fairness, and inclusive decision-making. Inmate custodial levels include close, medium, minimum I, minimum II and minimum III risk levels. Detainees in close supervision show the greatest risk. The magnitude of the risk is least among inmates in minimum III level. In regard to prison security levels, inmates are placed by security level. For example, the cell areas within close supervision are termed as maximum security level.
The classification of systems help identify case plans for a particular offender based on the primary goals. For instance, if the primary goal is to foster public safety, possibilities of prisoner to escape should be monitored (Siegel & Bartollas, 2014).
Similarly, when it comes to changing the offender’s behavior, then the focus should be aimed at the treatment criteria. In Alabama, upon admission, the CRB channels offenders to levels of supervision that serves their requirements and manages risks adequately. It is also necessary to match the determined needs with the available resources. For example, Alabama CRB focuses on directing the highly intensive measures to the most egregious and frequent offenders. Maximum security is therefore essential to ensure restricted movement. Second, the classification system should offer justification and consistent case decisions.
Prior to placing offenders, the case plans and programs should be reassessed and examined appropriately to ensure fairness. For instance, the CRB provides that offenders who commit less detrimental offenses undergo medium security that offer housing for about 50 prisoners in each dormitory. Minimum security provides less supervision because they present the least risk to public safety.
In conclusion, by meeting the measures mentioned above, one can ascertain that the classification system in Alabama Department of Corrections is useful. This is in the regard that, systems for placing offenders are appropriate, and provide change programs that meet their needs.
Reference
Siegel, L. J., & Bartollas, C. (2014). Corrections Today (2nd Ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.