Buy essay on Inmate Classification

The term “inmate” appeared in the sixteenth century and meant a person who lived in a house rented by someone else, historically the meaning changed and now it is used to refer to incarcerated people and is synonymous to detainee (Kelley, 2009). The classification process called Objective Jail Classification is a continuous procedure that starts on admission and is over when the inmate’s sentence is legally satisfied.
The process of jail classification varies depending on different factors such as the characteristics of the inmate population, jail management, building design etc. The system allows to identify the level of risk presented by the inmate and appropriate housing program assignments based on current charges, past criminal history, behavior, drug or alcohol abuse, escapes history, special needs, to mention just a few.
Minimum and maximum custody level inmates should be housed separately, as well as juveniles should be separated by sight and sound from adults, females and males also separated. Inmates who require protection and those assigned to a detoxification require separation to protect safety and security of the facility. Single cells are used for disciplinary and administrative separation.
The goal of the objective classification and facilities provision lies in giving inmates equal opportunities for successful adjustment and ensuring the safety and security of correctional institutions. The classification enables the systematic process of coordinating inmates that may be reviewed on a periodic basis. With inmates accountable for their actions, their bad behavior results in more restrictive measures. The corrections that are made to support daily management, administration, make the system flexible and responsive to changes in demographics, sentencing statuses and agency policy of inmates.
The inmates are classified to ensure that they are placed in the correctional setting that meets their programming and custody needs according to their custody level: maximum, medium, minimum. They are placed so that the risk for the community is minimized and provide the conditions for each inmate at any custody level to be assigned to any facility that has security level at or above the inmate’s custody classification. Incoming inmates are classified according to objective evaluation standards, criminal charges, criminal history, past institutional history, medical history and needs, life stability factors. The classification section is to screen inmates coming to the facility to define their housing assignment, the privileges they should receive within the facility, the screening is updated continuously throughout their stay in the facility.
The system of their classification is of particular importance as it influences may aspects of the inmates’ life and includes determining the cell pod to which they are assigned, the number of hours allowed outside their cell, recreational programs’ types they are allowed to take part in. In accordance with the Objective Jail Classification inmates are provided with opportunities for the growth, productivity and development in the least restrictive setting. According to the Administrative Regulations, the staff makes program access, administrative decisions as well as work assignments without regard to an inmate’s religion, sex, disability, political views etc.
The use of the Objective Jail Classification is demanded by the courts and professional organizations, as due to the effective implementation of a well-designed, validated classification system potential liability is minimized and public safety increased. Keeping to the Objective Classification Plan enables staff to better address the main principles and procedures of the plan, better evaluate inmates’ needs and identify if any specific needs exist, reduce race and ethnicity preference, that in turn improves objective management of the inmate population.