CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS (FROM HANDBOOK ON CORRECTIONAL CLASSIFICATION - PROGRAMMING FOR TREATMENT AND REINTEGRATION, 1978, BY L J HIPPCHEN ET AL - SEE NCJ-52526)

• NCJ Number: 52532
• Author(s): E E FLYNN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 19 pages
• Corporate Author: American Correctional Association; Anderson Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

TYPES OF CLASSIFICATION APPROACHES, CLASSIFICATIONS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, MANAGEMENT, TREATMENT, AND REINTEGRATION PURPOSES, CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURES, AND THE INITIAL CLASSIFICATION PROCESS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

CLASSIFICATION IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH A CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM DETERMINES DIFFERENTIAL CARE AND HANDLING OF OFFENDERS AND ASSIGNS THE TO TREATMENT ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES. CONTEMPORARY CLASSIFICATION SCHEMES ARE LISTED ACCORDING TO THE UNDERLYING LOGIC OF EACH SYSTEM, AND THE RESEARCHERS ADVOCATING EACH SYSTEM ARE SPECIFIED. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT PURPOSES ARE DISTINGUISHABLE FROM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS FOR TREATMENT AND REINTEGRATION OF OFFENDERS, MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS AIM TO IDENTIFY INMATE FACTORS HAVING PARTICULAR RELEVANCE TO THE EFFECTIVE CONTROL AND CUSTODY OF THE INMATE, WHICH INCLUDES GUARANTEEING HIS SAFETY AND PREVENTING FURTHER LAW VIOLATIONS WHILE HE IS IN CUSTODY. CLASSIFICATION FOR TREATMENT AND REINTEGRATION PURPOSES AIMS TO CHANGE THE ATTITUDES, VALUES, AND BEHAVIOR OF THE OFFENDER IN ORDER TO CULTIVATE A LAW-ABIDING LIFE STYLE. PARTICIPATION IN SUCH PROGRAMS SHOULD BE VOLUNTARY, AND WHILE IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE IMPACT OF SUCH PROGRAMS IN THE PAST HAS NOT BEEN ENCOURAGING, THEIR IMPROVED USE SHOULD STILL BE CENTRAL TO THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM. CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURES ARE DISCUSSED UNDER THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONAL ALTERNATIVES: CLASSIFICATION WITHIN EXISTING CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS BY MEANS OF SPECIAL CLASSIFICATION UNITS OR COMMITTEES; RECEPTION AND DIAGNOSTIC CENTERS; CLASSIFICATION TEAMS WORKING WITH INMATES ON A CONTINUING BASIS WITHIN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS; AND COMMUNITY-BASED CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS. THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE INITIAL CLASSIFICATION PROCESS, THE ORIENTATION PROCESS, METHOD OF RECEPTION AND INTAKE, INTRAINSTITUTIONAL CLASSIFICATION PROCESSES, AND REVIEW BOARDS ARE ALSO BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. (RCB)