Correctional Process - Ch.8 Notes

A. Classification in Prison Systems

  • Prisons separate convicted individuals based on severity of offense to aid rehabilitation.

II. History of Classification

A. Early Practices

  • Prisons historically focused solely on punishment without classification.

B. Alexander Maconochie's Contribution

  • Maconochie developed a mark system to classify inmates based on behavior and work ethic.

    • Inmates awarded marks to progress through five phases:

      1. Strict incarceration

      2. Intense labor

      3. Limited freedom

      4. Ticket of leave

      5. Full freedom

C. Sir Walter Crofton

  • Crofton adapted Maconochie's ideas, creating a three-stage system in the Irish penal system:

    1. Segregated confinement with work/training

    2. Transition with public work projects

    3. Release upon reliability

D. American Classification

  • Elmira Reformatory opened in 1876, pioneering classification in U.S. prisons.

E. 1920 Wickersham Commission

  • Advocated for improved classification systems for better inmate treatment.

F. Modern Classification Systems

  • Increased focus on objective classification, driven by litigation and prison overcrowding.

    • Consistent and validated criteria implemented since the 1990s.

    • Internal classification helps allocate resources, housing, and programming needs.

III. Rationale for Classification

A. Legal Precedents

  • Courts have mandated states develop effective classification systems.

B. Importance of Classification

  • Vital for maintaining order and addressing inmate needs, preventing violence, and ensuring constitutional rights.

    • Cases: Holt v. Sarver (1969), Morris v. Travisono (1970), Palmigiano v. Garrahy (1977) stressed classification's role.

IV. Goals of Classification Systems

  • Protect public and inmates, control behavior, and aid resource allocation.

A. Public Protection

  • Classifies offenders' risk levels to align security measures.

B. Inmate Protection

  • Identifies high-risk individuals to reduce violence risk.

C. Behavior Control

  • Inmates rewarded for good behavior or penalized for violations via custody adjustments.

D. Planning and Accountability

  • Help agencies allocate resources based on inmate characteristics.

V. Elements of Classification Systems

A. Continual Process

  • Inmate classification evolves based on behavior throughout the sentence.

B. Security and Custody

  • Levels determine physical barriers and staff supervision needs.

C. Initial Security Classification

  • Evaluated using PSI report, institutional capabilities, and needs assessment.

D. SENTRY System

  • Comprehensive database for inmate classification and tracking.

VI. Special Housing Assignments

A. Administrative Segregation

  • Nonpunitive separation to maintain safety and order.

B. Protective Custody

  • Safeguards vulnerable inmates from harm.

C. Substance Abuse

  • High prevalence of drug abuse among inmates necessitates specialized programs and treatment.

D. Screening and Placement

  • Essential for aligning treatment with individual inmate needs.

VII. Conclusion

  • Efficient classification is crucial in prison management and inmate rehabilitation.