U.S. Department of Justice

Offender Classification

Effective offender classification is essential in corrections, not only to support daily management and administration, but also to keep the system responsive to changing offender demographics, sentencing statutes, and agency policy.

We help agencies develop or modify their classification procedures through programs, technical assistance, and resource materials. Use of objective classification systems and techniques is emphasized.

Review the documents from the library for more information about offender classification. For more information about this topic, please use the Help Desk.

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Recommended Reading

Date Title Type
2004

NIC Publication
Results from a survey "designed to obtain information on the procedures used to classify high-risk inmates, particularly those in protective custody or administrative segregation, and inmates with mental illness or medical problems" are presented (p.... Read More
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2004

NIC Publication
Prison systems experience continued pressure to house offenders in the most appropriate setting possible. While most correctional systems have implemented objective classification systems that have become quite effective in identifying inmates for th... Read More
2001

NIC Publication
Findings from a telephone assessment of state and federal practices for classifying women offenders are presented. In addition to an executive summary, this report has the following chapters: introduction; issues in classifying women offenders -- the... Read More
PDF
2001

NIC Publication
In order to enable correctional administrators to anticipate further improvements in objective classification, this bulletin provides a summary of current critical classification issues. Topics briefly discussed include: re-evaluation of existing p... Read More
PDF
2004

NIC Publication
A report which highlights the results of two cooperative agreements from the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) addressing the critical need for gender-specific objective classification systems is presented.  Following an executive summary ... Read More
PDF
2004

NIC Publication
The effects of information technology (IT) and computation developments on prison classification productivity are examined (p. vi). Ten chapters follow an executive summary: current status of MIS (management information system) support for prison cla... Read More
PDF
2003

NIC Publication
New information and knowledge learned regarding classification and risk assessment systems are reviewed. Topics discussed include: differences between prison classification and public risk assessment; differences between external and internal prison ... Read More
PDF
2002

NIC Publication
The development, implementation, impact assessment, and refinement of objective internal classification systems are examined. In addition to an executive summary, this report contains three chapters: introduction; description of the states' internal ... Read More
PDF
1998

NIC Publication
Objective jail classification (OJC) is a process of assessing every jail inmate's custody and program needs and is considered one of the most important management tools available to jail administrators and criminal justice system planners. An effecti... Read More
PDF
2004

NIC Publication
The current state of the art in prison classification is reviewed. Seven chapters follow an executive summary; introduction; a brief history of objective prison classification; what is objective prison classification; effective strategies -- guidelin... Read More
PDF
2004

NIC Publication
Tasks, assessments, and technology used in prisoner intake systems are examined. Following an executive summary, this report has seven chapters: introduction; national overview of facility characteristics, facility functions, intake components and pe... Read More
PDF
2002

NIC Publication
Work undertaken by the participating states is described, an outline of the fundamental tasks required for a revalidation effort is provided, and external classification trends and lessons learned from these classification reforms are summarized with... Read More
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Related Resources

Date Title Type
1994

NIC Publication
The report presents the results of a survey on internal offender classification systems across the United States. The report discusses survey methods and prevalence of these systems. It then briefly describes the offender classification systems in va... Read More
PDF
1984

NIC Publication
... Read More
PDF
1994

NIC Publication
This study of classification systems has two purposes. The first is to test new methods for evaluating objective prison classification systems by using qualitative research methods. The second is to examine why inmates often do not behave as expected... Read More
PDF
1990

NIC Publication
Contents: (v. 1) Consultant's Guide to Conducting a Phase I Jail Classification Assessment; (v. 2) Evaluating Jail Classification Systems: Practical Approach; (v. 3) Executive Summary; (v. 4) Final Report; (v. 5) Guidelines for Developing, Implement... Read More
PDF
1992

NIC Publication
This review of the literature summarizes the history of inmate classification, the specific classification peculiarities characteristic of jail settings, and issues in the implementation of objective jail classification systems. This 1992 edition inc... Read More
PDF
1992

NIC Publication
Developed to provide correctional professional with a tool for more effectively and efficiently managing their departments, this document presents a critical review of issues relevant to the evaluation of correctional classification systems. Topics c... Read More
PDF
1989

NIC Publication
Five patterns of behavior in institutionalized female offenders that are similar to patterns in male offenders are identified. These behavior patterns are aggressive, manipulative, dependent, inadequate, and depressed/anxious. They can be utilized to... Read More
PDF
1993

NIC Publication
This study evaluates the effect of the current Indiana Department of Corrections classification system on female inmates, with special emphasis on possible over-classification. It also assesses the specific needs and difficulties that female inmates ... Read More
PDF
2004

NIC Publication
Tasks, assessments, and technology used in prisoner intake systems are examined. Following an executive summary, this report has seven chapters: introduction; national overview of facility characteristics, facility functions, intake components and pe... Read More
PDF
1996

NIC Publication
This monograph reviews several models for risk classification and describes the current state of offender risk classification, as well as furnishing a consumer's guide to risk assessment. The authors present options, review issues, promote the proper... Read More
PDF
2004

NIC Publication
An overview of the work done by collaborative partnerships to design and validate gender-responsive risk and needs assessments for female offenders is provided. This article discusses issues surrounding female offender classification and the current ... Read More
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