Management Classification for Young Adult Inmates

• NCJ Number: 72204
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 43 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1979) Pages: 53-59
• Author(s): M J Bohn
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 7 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Portions of this paper were presented at the annual meetings of the International Differential Treatment Association, Denver, Colorado, April 1978, and the International Association of Applied Psychology, Munich, West Germany, July 1978

Annotation

The Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) of Tallahassee, Fla., implemented a classification system for young adult males that has reduced violent incidences, improved staff personnel time, and facilitated management decisions.

Abstract

Originally, offenders with all levels of offense seriousness were found in all dormitories of this FCI, as were inmates of every custody level and propensity toward violence. In 1977 the institution decided to separate the more predatory inmates from those who were most likely to be victimized. To classify the initial population, staff members rated inmates behavior using the Correctional Adjustment Check List, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was administered to each inmate. A centralized admission and orientation unit was established for the identification and classification of incoming inmates, which aimed to identify types within 2 weeks of admission. In one dormitory those men who were seen as likely to be aggressive or to act out against others were joined with a number of the 'normal' men thought to be able to live with this somewhat disturbed minority. A third dormitory received no inmates thought to belong to an extreme category. Across all dormitories a representative racial mix was attempted. As no other aspects of the FCI changed other than the classification system, and evaluation using a management information system was relatively easy to perform. The data retrieval system showed data on caseload, classification, releases, incident reports, assaults, escapes, furloughs, and education enrollments. Results showed a decrease in the level of violence, even among the most aggressive inmates, improved inmate morale, and improved staff performance and morale. Moreover, a lessened amount of staff coverage occurred with the separation of the more aggressive from the more victimized inmates. Six references are provided.