NCJ Number
62925
Date Published
1978
Length
66 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT EXAMINES AND RECOMMENDS CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM USED IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, TO CLASSIFY CONVICTED OFFENDERS TO DETERMINE TO WHICH PRISONS THEY SHOULD BE SENT.
Abstract
STUDY METHODS INCLUDED DOCUMENT REVIEWS, OBSERVATION OF CLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP INTERVIEWS WITH CORRECTIONAL OFFICIALS AND PRISONERS. UNDER CURRENT PROCEDURES, ALTHOUGH LONG-TERM PRISONERS AND MOST YOUNG OFFENDERS ARE CLASSIFIED, THE MAJORITY OF PRISONERS INCREASINGLY ARE NOT CLASSIFIED. FOR 1975-76, 9.1 PERCENT OF CONVICTED PRISONERS WERE CLASSIFIED. IN THE 2 PREVIOUS YEARS, OVER 16 PERCENT WERE CLASSIFIED. FACTORS USED IN CLASSIFYING PRISONERS INCLUDE ESCAPE ATTEMPT RECORD, PRESENT OFFENSE, PRIOR OFFENSE, MENTAL HISTORY, DRUG USE, EMPLOYMENT HISTORY, AND OTHER FACTORS. THE SYSTEM USED IN YOUTH TRAINING CENTERS DIFFERS CONSIDERABLY FROM THAT USED IN THE PRISON SYSTEM. THE PRESENT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IS INADEQUATE WITH RESPECT TO PHYSICAL FACILITIES, PRISONER TRANSPORT, GUIDELINES USED, STAFFING, PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO PRISONERS AND THEIR RELATIVES, AND CLASSIFICATION FILES. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT (1) THE DUAL SYSTEM OPERATING FOR OFFENDERS AGE 17 TO 20 BE REEXAMINED AND CHANGED; (2) PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING BE USED; (3) FACILITIES BE MODIFIED; (4) PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN COUNTY PRISONS BE FACILITATED; (5) THE RATING SYSTEM USED IN CLASSIFICATION BE RECONSIDERED; (6) CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES RATHER THAN PRISONERS BE USED FOR CLERICAL SUPPORT; (7) RECORDKEEPING BE IMPROVED; (8) PRISONERS RECEIVE A BOOKLET DESCRIBING ALL PRISON FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN VICTORIA; (9) ALL PRISONERS BE GIVEN PRINTED STATEMENTS OF REGULATIONS; AND (10) A COMPUTERIZED INDEX SYSTEM FOR CASES BE ESTABLISHED. NUMEROUS OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, TABLES, A DIAGRAM OF THE PENTRIDGE CLASSIFICATION CENTER, AND AN APPENDIX PRESENTING THE AUTHOR'S FIELD NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)