List and describe three issues complicating the use of risk assessment and classification for correctional administrators

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers should contain the following discussion points:
There are five potential issues.
• Jail Classification Systems: Many jails still only classify and separate males from females, adults from juveniles, and sentenced from un-sentenced prisoners. There are very few jails that use more sophisticated systems to separate inmates by risk or dangerousness.
• Changing Sentence Structures and Classification: With a more punitive approach to sentencing, we have mandatory minimum sentences, the lengthening of sentences, three strikes legislation, and truth-in-sentencing laws. These changes in sentencing change the makeup of the inmate population, as a larger proportion of the inmate population is serving long sentences.
• Race, gender, and age: These are not considered by objective classification systems, yet all seem to have some correlation to and influence the classification process in some manner.
• Prison Overcrowding and Classification: It is difficult to maintain effective classification systems in times of severe prison overcrowding, as overcrowding increases the higher the security of the prison.
• Resources Committed to Classification: Correctional agencies often do not assign as many staff as necessary to classification, resulting in a lack of thorough validation and review which undermines the effectiveness of a classification system.