NCJ Number
59159
Date Published
1978
Length
21 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXPLORES HOW DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION ABOUT OFFENDERS CAN BEST BE USED TO BENEFIT BOTH THE GEORGIA CORRECTIONS SYSTEM AND INDIVIDUAL OFFENDERS, ASSIST SENTENCING JUDGES, AND FACILITATE REHABILITION.
Abstract
THE CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENDERS, BASED ON SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IDENTIFIED BY PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, SENTENCING, TYPE OF CRIME, PSYCHOMETRIC TESTING, IS A FACET OF ALL CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS. DIAGNOSIS, IN CONTRAST, IS SOMETIMES REQUIRED BY LAW BUT IS NEVER CLEARLY DEFINED. IN THE STUDY, DIAGNOSIS REFERS TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL OFFENDER CHARACTERISTICS WHICH DESCRIBE OFFENDERS AS UNIQUE PERSONS; ARE AT LEAST POTENTIALLY RELATED TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR; MAY DEFINE NEEDS FOR SECURITY, PLACEMENT, AND MANAGEMENT; AND MAY PERMIT SPECIFIC REMEDIAL ACTIONS TO REDUCE FURTHER CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS/OFFENDER REHABILITATION CONDUCTS SYSTEMATIC, OBJECTIVE, AND DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF ALL INCOMING OFFENDERS, ALTHOUGH THERE IS LIMITED USE AND COORDINATION OF THE DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION OBTAINED. TAKING 3 TO 6 WEEKS, DIAGNOSTIC AND CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURES GENERALLY ENCOMPASS SUCH EVENTS AS RECEPTION AND FINGERPRINTING, MEDICAL EXAMINATION, ORIENTATION, INTERVIEWS AND REFERRALS, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND VOCATIONAL TESTING, VOCATIONAL AND SOCIAL INTERVIEWS, CLASSIFICATION, AND REQUESTS FOR ASSIGNMENT. A CLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE THEN MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING SECURITY (REQUIRED SURVEILLANCE), INSTITUTIONAL ASSIGNMENT, EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND TYPE OF PROGRAM, VOCATIONAL NEEDS AND TYPE OF PROGRAM, WORK RELEASE ELIGIBILITY, OCCUPATIONAL ASSIGNMENT, COUNSELING NEEDS, AND PHYSICAL ABILITY. THREE ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THE USE OF DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION ARE RECOMMENDED: (1) MOUNT A SUBSTANTIAL EFFORT TO TRAIN STAFF IN USING INFORMATION AND INSURE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SUCH USE BY FILLING THE POSITION OF STATEWIDE DIAGNOSTIC COORDINATOR; (2) INCREASE OFFENDER PARTICIPATION IN THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS; AND (3) MAKE MORE DIAGNOSTIC DATA GATHERING IN THE COMMUNITY A PART OF PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATIONS. A PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IS DESCRIBED. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)