By: Joe Robbins, Implementation Specialist
According to the National Institute of Corrections, “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.” So, when a local jail is assessing which tool or instrument to use to make this crucial decision, they need to give it very careful consideration. It is a known fact that a solid, well run classification system enhances not only the safety of staff and inmates, but also helps to mitigate litigation when issues occur.
Besides being instrumental in these endeavors, an objective classification tool – when used properly by well trained staff – also aids the administration by helping to manage the ever-changing offender demographics, stay up to date on criminal code changes, and influence agency policies. The data it provides can also guide current and future building or expansion decisions and staffing needs. It also ensures the facility respects well established legal decisions requiring jails to house inmates in the “least restrictive means possible”.
So, how do you choose an inmate classification tool that will do everything necessary? Simplicity, accuracy, ease of use, and speed must be top of mind. equivant Corrections is proud to offer the Northpointe Decision Tree to customers. The tree has existed for over thirty-five years and is used in jails of all sizes from coast to coast. Its methodology has been used in courts to mitigate litigation. This tool can discern the typical home-grown inmate with minor issues, all the way to those that require very high supervision so that the staff and inmates aren’t placed in harm’s way. It has been proven to properly identify and segregate the offender population by the appropriate determination of the level of risk each one of them individually presents. This allows the agency to manage the population accordingly – and cultivates peace of mind.
The first step on the road to a safe, clean, and quiet jail is objective inmate classification. When choosing a tool, you want one that is accurate and saves staff time and headaches. The Decision Tree is easy to use as it simply asks yes or no questions based on readily available data concerning the offender being classified. It holds your hand throughout the process and is regarded as both the simplest and most accurate classification tool on the market to protect yourself, your staff, your inmates, and your jail when legal issues arise. Objective inmate classification, when done properly using the right tool, will make your jail safer and help streamline processes. Learn more about the Decision Tree here and then contact us to set up a demo.
