GPS RESEARCH LIBRARY: Prison Classification Systems & Violence: Misclassification, Overclassification, and Safety Failures ============================================================ Georgia Prisoners' Speak — gps.press Generated: 2026-03-04 02:26:50 EST Research Date: 2026-02-21 Topic: Classification/Violence JSON: https://gps.press/research/prison-classification-systems-violence-misclassification-overclassification-and-safety-failures/?format=json SUMMARY ---------------------------------------- This GPS research document comprehensively examines prison classification systems, documenting how both overclassification and underclassification drive violence, waste resources, and violate constitutional protections. The DOJ's October 2024 investigation of Georgia prisons found 142 homicides between 2018-2023, staffing at only 50% of full levels, close-security inmates housed in medium-security facilities, and classification decisions driven by bed availability rather than risk—conditions described as 'among the most severe violations' uncovered in any DOJ prison investigation. GPS's own analysis has identified systematic classification mismatch in Georgia's medium-security prisons, while national research and the New Mexico case study demonstrate that proper classification could simultaneously reduce both costs and violence. STATISTICS (14) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] 142 homicides in Georgia prisons (2018-2023) Between 2018 and 2023, there were 142 homicides in Georgia state prisons according to the DOJ investigation findings. Value: 142.0 homicides Tags: violence,death,facilities Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] 5 homicides at 4 prisons in one month in 2023 In 2023, there were 5 homicides at 4 different Georgia prisons in one month alone. Value: 5.0 homicides Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: violence,death,facilities Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] Georgia correctional officer staffing at only 50% of full levels State prison census has doubled since 1990 while correctional officer staffing is at only 50% of full levels. Value: 50.0 percent of full staffing levels Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: staffing,facilities Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] Some Georgia prisons have staffing vacancy rates exceeding 60% Some Georgia prisons have staffing vacancy rates exceeding 60%. Value: 60.0 percent vacancy rate Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: staffing,facilities Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] Georgia has 7 close-security prisons Georgia has 7 close-security prisons for offenders who are escape risks, have assault histories, are considered dangerous, or have detainers for other serious crimes. Value: 7.0 close-security prisons Tags: facilities,policy Sources: GDC, State Prisons and Classification Fact Sheets - [confirmed] Georgia has 14 medium-security prisons Georgia has 14 medium-security prisons, the largest category. Offenders have no major adjustment problems, and most may work outside the prison fence under constant supervision. Value: 14.0 medium-security prisons Tags: facilities,policy Sources: GDC, State Prisons and Classification Fact Sheets - [reported] Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison intake: 100-125 inmates per day Approximately 100-125 diagnostic inmates arrive per day from county jails at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison (GDCP) in Jackson, Georgia. Value: 100.0 inmates per day (100-125) Tags: facilities,operations,demographics Sources: GDC, State Prisons and Classification Fact Sheets - [confirmed] Federal BOP minimum-security per capita cost: $21,006/year Federal Bureau of Prisons minimum-security per capita cost is $21,006 per inmate per year. Value: 21006.0 dollars per inmate per year Date: 2013-01-01 Tags: budget,facilities Sources: Urban Institute, The Growth & Increasing Cost of the Federal Prison System - [confirmed] Federal BOP high-security per capita cost: $33,930/year Federal Bureau of Prisons high-security per capita cost is $33,930 per inmate per year. Value: 33930.0 dollars per inmate per year Date: 2013-01-01 Tags: budget,facilities Sources: Urban Institute, The Growth & Increasing Cost of the Federal Prison System - [confirmed] Federal community supervision (probation) cost: $3,433/year Federal community supervision (probation) costs $3,433 per offender per year. Value: 3433.0 dollars per offender per year Date: 2013-01-01 Tags: budget Sources: Urban Institute, The Growth & Increasing Cost of the Federal Prison System - [reported] New Mexico overclassification costs up to $28 million/year Overclassification deviations from the scoring tool cost New Mexico up to $28 million per year. Value: 28.0 million dollars per year Date: 2019-01-01 Tags: budget,policy Sources: New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, Policy Spotlight on Inmate Classification - [confirmed] New Mexico: 60% of new inmates scored minimum, only 29% housed there In New Mexico, while 60% of new inmates from 2014-2016 scored at minimum security, only 29% were actually housed there — most were in medium security instead. Value: 29.0 percent housed at minimum (vs. 60 percent scoring at minimum security) Tags: policy,facilities Sources: New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, Policy Spotlight on Inmate Classification - [confirmed] New Mexico minimum-security cost: $11,183/inmate/year New Mexico minimum-security units cost $11,183 annual security cost per inmate in FY2019. Value: 11183.0 dollars per inmate per year Date: 2019-01-01 Tags: budget,facilities Sources: New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, Policy Spotlight on Inmate Classification - [confirmed] New Mexico maximum-security cost: $37,585/inmate/year New Mexico maximum-security units at all other facilities cost $37,585 per inmate per year in FY2019. Value: 37585.0 dollars per inmate per year Date: 2019-01-01 Tags: budget,facilities Sources: New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, Policy Spotlight on Inmate Classification TRENDS (2) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Georgia prison homicides grew from 7 to 35 (2018-2023) Homicides in Georgia prisons grew from 7 in 2018 to 35 in 2023, a five-fold increase over five years. Tags: violence,death,facilities Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] Georgia prison census doubled since 1990 Georgia's state prison census has doubled since 1990. Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report DATA GAPS (3) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] GDC homicide underreporting: 6 reported vs. 18 in incident reports GDC reported 6 homicides for the first 5 months of 2024 in mortality data, but at least 18 deaths were categorized as homicides in incident reports, indicating significant underreporting. Tags: violence,death,policy,operations Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] Few states have validated classification instruments for predicting prison violence Few states have validated their classification instruments for predicting prison violence specifically; many rely on post-release recidivism as the only outcome variable (not institutional violence). Tags: policy,violence Sources: Oxford Bibliographies, Prison Classification — Criminology - [reported] NGA validation gap: no evidence of Georgia-specific validation The document identifies the need for independent validation of the NGA classification instrument using Georgia-specific data, implying no such validation has been conducted. Without validation of scoring tools, it is impossible to determine whether placements represent genuine security needs or unnecessary overclassification. Tags: policy,operations CASE DETAILS (4) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Single officer responsible for 400 beds at close-security prison At one close-security Georgia prison, a single officer was responsible for tracking 400 beds. Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: staffing,facilities,violence Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] 1999 New Mexico Santa Rosa prison guard murder linked to classification failure In 1999, a guard was murdered at the medium-security Santa Rosa prison — minutes after an inmate was stabbed in another part of the prison, one day after another serious assault, and nine days after an inmate was murdered in his cellblock. A review found NMCD inappropriately placed inmates with violent histories and dangerous gang affiliations in the medium-security prison. Date: 1999-01-01 Tags: violence,death,staffing,facilities Sources: New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, Policy Spotlight on Inmate Classification - [confirmed] 1980 PNM prison riot killed 33 inmates The deadly 1980 Penitentiary of New Mexico (PNM) prison riot killed 33 inmates. The state was subsequently required under the Duran consent decree to implement a formal classification system, which it had lacked entirely prior to the riot. Date: 1980-01-01 Tags: violence,death,legal Sources: New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, Policy Spotlight on Inmate Classification - [confirmed] GDCP opened in 1969 in Jackson, Georgia The Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison (GDCP) opened in 1969 and is located in Jackson, Georgia. All adult male felons enter through GDCP. Date: 1969-01-01 Tags: facilities,operations Sources: GDC, State Prisons and Classification Fact Sheets FINDINGS (19) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Walker State Prison noted as exception with better staffing and safety Walker State Prison was a notable exception among Georgia prisons, with fewer incarcerated people reporting fear and a higher proportion of staff positions filled. Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: staffing,facilities,violence Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] DOJ described Georgia findings as 'among the most severe violations' in any DOJ prison investigation The DOJ October 2024 findings report was described as revealing 'among the most severe violations' uncovered in any DOJ prison investigation. Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: violence,legal,policy Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] DOJ: GDC places too much blame on gangs, insufficient emphasis on understaffing DOJ investigators emphasized that GDC places too much blame on gangs and insufficient emphasis on understaffing as the primary driver of disorder. Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: gangs,staffing,violence,policy Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] DOJ: Close-security inmates housed in medium-security facilities in Georgia The DOJ found that close-security inmates ('escape risks, have assault histories, deemed dangerous') are housed in medium-security facilities not designed or staffed for that population in Georgia. Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: violence,policy,facilities Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] DOJ: Classification decisions driven by bed availability rather than risk assessment The DOJ found that classification decisions in Georgia prisons appear driven by bed availability rather than risk assessment. Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: policy,facilities,violence Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] DOJ: GDC does not adequately screen, classify, or track LGBTI individuals The DOJ found that GDC does not adequately screen, classify, or track LGBTI individuals to ensure their safety. Transgender women often housed with male inmates face heightened assault risk due to inadequate classification. Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: violence,policy,demographics Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] DOJ: Violent incidents consistently underreported and mischaracterized The DOJ found that violent incidents in Georgia prisons are consistently underreported due to lack of supervision and mischaracterized using inappropriate incident-type categories. Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: violence,policy,operations Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] Staffing-classification-violence nexus mechanism in Georgia The DOJ identified a causal chain: (1) chronic understaffing at 50% or below, (2) inability to conduct basic daily counts or maintain supervision, (3) gangs fill the vacuum controlling housing units, (4) incarcerated people can unlock their own cells and wander at will, (5) classification becomes meaningless when no staff enforce security boundaries, (6) violence becomes the norm. Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: staffing,violence,gangs,policy,operations Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] Overclassification bias: 'better to be safe than sorry' Research shows a systematic bias toward overclassification because correctional officials consider it 'better to be safe than sorry.' A false negative prediction (placing a high-risk inmate too low) may result in violence, death, or escape, and officials face accountability. But overclassification rarely produces scrutiny 'until the budget is sufficiently overstrained.' Tags: policy,budget Sources: Oxford Bibliographies, Prison Classification — Criminology - [confirmed] Women offenders tend to be overclassified by current classification tools Custody classification systems used today tend to overclassify women into higher risk categories than warranted by their behavior, increasing limitations on their freedoms and access to programming. Classification tools work better for male offenders than female offenders. Tags: demographics,policy Sources: Oxford Bibliographies, Prison Classification — Criminology - [confirmed] Overcrowding linked to increased violence in California prisons Research on 14 California state prisons (2018 and 2022) found that populations exceeding original design capacity were associated with increased violence — both inmate-on-inmate and inmate-on-officer assaults and batteries. Overcrowding affects inmates and correctional staff equally. Tags: violence,facilities,staffing Sources: California Legislative Analyst's Office, Improving California's Prison Inmate Classification System - [confirmed] Perpetrators of staff assaults more likely to be younger, gang affiliated, higher security A study of New Zealand prisons (2016-2020) found that prisoners who assaulted staff were more likely to be younger, gang affiliated, and had higher security classifications compared to prisoners who did not assault staff. Perpetrators of serious violence tended to already be segregated from the general population. Tags: violence,gangs,demographics - [confirmed] Close-custody violence predictors: younger, prior prison violence, violent convictions Cunningham & Sorensen (2007) found that among close-custody prisoners, those who were younger, had previously perpetrated violence in prison, and were convicted of violent crimes were significantly more likely to commit assaults resulting in serious injuries. Date: 2007-01-01 Tags: violence,demographics Sources: Cunningham & Sorensen (2007), characteristics associated with serious prison violence - [confirmed] Static criminal history factors are weak predictors of institutional misconduct for women Static criminal history factors alone are weak predictors of institutional misconduct, especially for women. Gender-responsive needs assessment improves prediction of women's institutional misconduct. Tags: demographics,policy,violence Sources: Oxford Bibliographies, Prison Classification — Criminology - [confirmed] Long-term and older inmates often require minimal internal security regardless of offense history Long-term and older inmates often require minimal internal security regardless of offense history. Tags: demographics,policy Sources: Oxford Bibliographies, Prison Classification — Criminology - [reported] GPS identified systematic classification mismatch in Georgia medium-security prisons Georgia Prisoners' Speak has identified through data analysis that medium-security prisons in Georgia house close-security inmates at rates far above what would be expected — a systematic classification mismatch that places lower-risk inmates in danger and strains facilities not designed for high-risk populations. Tags: violence,policy,facilities - [estimated] Proper classification could reduce both costs and violence simultaneously If Georgia's classification system systematically overclassifies low-risk inmates into higher-security settings while simultaneously housing high-risk inmates in insufficiently secure facilities, the state wastes money (higher per-inmate costs at higher security levels) while failing to protect the people most at risk. Proper classification could both reduce costs and reduce violence simultaneously. Tags: budget,violence,policy - [confirmed] Overclassification effects per UNODC According to the UNODC Handbook on the Classification of Prisoners, overclassification: exposes individuals to harsher conditions than necessary, hinders social reintegration, results in significantly higher operating costs, can lead to unfair discriminatory or arbitrary placement practices, and opens systems to corruption influences. Date: 2020-01-01 Tags: policy,budget,corruption,reentry,conditions Sources: UNODC, Handbook on the Classification of Prisoners, Criminal Justice Handbook Series - [confirmed] Underclassification driven by available bed space rather than security risk Classification decisions are frequently driven by available bed space rather than security risk. When prisons are overcrowded, classification integrity breaks down. Tags: policy,facilities,violence Sources: UNODC, Handbook on the Classification of Prisoners, Criminal Justice Handbook Series QUOTES (3) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] DOJ: GDC leadership has lost control of its facilities The DOJ found that 'the leadership of the Georgia Department of Corrections has lost control of its facilities.' Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: violence,staffing,operations,gangs Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] DOJ: Near-constant life-threatening violence in Georgia prisons DOJ investigators described conditions in Georgia prisons as involving 'near-constant life-threatening violence.' Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: violence,conditions Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] Kristen Clarke's remedial measures: staffing, classification, and reporting Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke's remedial measures included: 'adding supervision and staffing, fixing the classification and housing system, and correcting deficiencies when it comes to reporting and investigations.' Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: policy,staffing,legal Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report POLICYS (6) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] DOJ recommended GDC reevaluate housing and inmate classification process The DOJ explicitly recommended that GDC 'reevaluate the housing and inmate classification process' as one of its minimum remedial measures. Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: policy,legal,facilities Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] GDC diagnostic process takes 7-15 working days The diagnostic classification process at GDCP takes 7-15 working days, during which all inmates are considered close security. Tags: policy,operations Sources: GDC, State Prisons and Classification Fact Sheets - [confirmed] GDC uses Next Generation Assessment (NGA) classification tool Georgia's classification tool is the Next Generation Assessment (NGA), which generates a security level using an automated algorithm that weighs factors including sentence length, nature of the crime, criminal history, history of violence, medical and treatment risks and needs. Tags: policy,operations Sources: Georgia Department of Corrections, Security Classification Policy 220.02 - [confirmed] GDC policy: Sex offenders can never be classified below medium security Under GDC policy, sex offenders can never be classified below medium security. Sexual predators have additional restrictions. Tags: policy Sources: Georgia Department of Corrections, Security Classification Policy 220.02 - [confirmed] GDC wardens can override NGA-generated classification level The NGA generates a recommended security level which is reviewed by the Warden/Superintendent for approval. Wardens can submit override requests if they determine the system-generated level is inappropriate. Tags: policy,operations Sources: Georgia Department of Corrections, Security Classification Policy 220.02 - [reported] Nine evidence-based reform pathways for Georgia classification Evidence-based reforms include: (1) independent validation of NGA using Georgia-specific data, (2) regular audits of classification decisions vs. actual housing, (3) elimination of bed-space-driven overrides, (4) LGBTI-specific screening and housing meeting PREA standards, (5) gender-responsive tools for women, (6) reclassification reviews at regular intervals, (7) public reporting of classification data, overrides, and outcomes, (8) independent oversight, (9) adequate staffing to enforce classification-based security boundaries. Tags: policy,staffing,facilities,legal LEGAL FACTS (5) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Nelson Mandela Rules call for lowest security category consistent with safety The Nelson Mandela Rules (UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners) call for using the lowest security category consistent with safety and control requirements. Tags: legal,policy Sources: UNODC, Handbook on the Classification of Prisoners, Criminal Justice Handbook Series - [confirmed] Marbury v. Warden: Deliberate indifference includes pervasive staffing issues In Marbury v. Warden, 936 F.3d 1227, 1235 (11th Cir. 2019), the court held that deliberate indifference may include evidence of 'pervasive staffing and logistical issues rendering prison officials unable to address near-constant violence, tensions between different subsets of a prison population.' Date: 2019-01-01 Tags: legal,staffing,violence - [confirmed] Van Riper v. Wexford: Understaffing policies causing violence violate Eighth Amendment In Van Riper v. Wexford Health Sources, Inc., 67 F. App'x 501, 505 (10th Cir. 2003), the court held: 'When prison officials create policies that lead to dangerous levels of understaffing and, consequently, inmate-on-inmate violence, there is a violation of the Eighth Amendment.' Date: 2003-01-01 Tags: legal,staffing,violence - [confirmed] PREA requires zero tolerance for sexual abuse and specific classification screening 28 C.F.R. Part 115 (PREA) requires zero tolerance for sexual abuse and sexual harassment and mandates specific classification screening to protect vulnerable populations — requirements the DOJ found Georgia violating, particularly for LGBTI individuals. Tags: legal,policy,violence Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report - [confirmed] Beard v. Livesay: Classification regulations create liberty interest requiring due process In Beard v. Livesay, 798 F.2d 874 (6th Cir. 1986), the court held that in the Tennessee prison system, statutes and regulations that clearly defined security classification created a liberty interest requiring due process hearings. Date: 1986-01-01 Tags: legal,policy DATASETS (3) ---------------------------------------- # Federal Bureau of Prisons Per Capita Costs by Security Level Annual per-inmate costs at different federal prison security levels, showing dramatic cost differentials that make overclassification expensive. Security Level Annual Cost Per Inmate ----------------------------------------------------------- Minimum security 21006 Low security 25378 Medium security 26247 High security 33930 Community corrections 25838 Community supervision (probation) 3433 # New Mexico Per Capita Security Costs by Facility Level (FY2019) Annual security cost per inmate at different security levels in New Mexico state prisons, demonstrating cost impact of overclassification. Security Level Annual Cost Per Inmate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Minimum-security units 11183 Level III and IV (medium/high) at SNMCF 27668 Maximum-security units at all other facilities 37585 # Georgia Prison Homicides by Year (2018-2023) Annual homicide counts in Georgia state prisons showing a five-fold increase from 2018 to 2023. Year Homicides ----------------- 2018 7 2023 35 KEY ENTITIES (18) ---------------------------------------- - Beard v. Livesay [case]: 6th Circuit case (798 F.2d 874, 1986) holding that clearly defined classification regulations create a liberty interest requiring due process hearings. - Duran consent decree [case]: Consent decree requiring New Mexico to implement a formal classification system after the 1980 PNM prison riot that killed 33 inmates. - Federal Bureau of Prisons [organization]: Federal agency responsible for operating federal prisons in the United States. (aka: BOP, Federal BOP) - Georgia Department of Corrections [organization]: State agency responsible for operating Georgia's prison system. Subject of federal DOJ investigation in 2022-2023 for constitutional violations including food-related deaths. (aka: GDC) - Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison from which David 'Toro' Zavala operated drug trafficking while serving time for armed robbery. - Georgia Prisoners' Speak [organization]: Advocacy organization documenting conditions inside Georgia prisons through photos and insider accounts, including food inadequacy. (aka: GPS) - Kristen Clarke [person]: Assistant Attorney General who outlined remedial measures for Georgia prisons including adding staffing, fixing classification and housing, and correcting reporting deficiencies. - Marbury v. Warden [case]: 11th Circuit case (936 F.3d 1227, 2019) holding that deliberate indifference may include evidence of pervasive staffing and logistical issues rendering prison officials unable to address near-constant violence. - National Institute of Corrections [organization]: Federal agency that provides classification resources and standards; states the primary goal of classification is managing inmate risk and ensuring safety. (aka: NIC) - Nelson Mandela Rules [legislation]: International standards calling for use of the lowest security category consistent with safety and control requirements. (aka: UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners) - New Mexico Corrections Department [organization]: New Mexico state corrections agency whose classification failures serve as a cautionary parallel to Georgia, including the 1999 Santa Rosa guard murder and 1980 PNM riot. (aka: NMCD) - Next Generation Assessment [program]: Georgia's automated classification tool that generates security levels based on an algorithm weighing sentence length, crime nature, criminal history, violence history, medical and treatment risks and needs. (aka: NGA) - Prison Rape Elimination Act [legislation]: Federal law requiring zero tolerance for sexual abuse and sexual harassment in prisons and mandating specific classification screening to protect vulnerable populations. (aka: PREA, 28 C.F.R. Part 115) - Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility [facility]: New Mexico facility where Level III and IV (medium/high) units cost $27,668 per inmate per year in FY2019. (aka: SNMCF) - U.S. Department of Justice [organization]: Federal agency that published October 2024 findings report on unconstitutional conditions in Georgia prisons. (aka: DOJ) - UNODC [organization]: UN agency that published the Handbook on the Classification of Prisoners identifying overclassification effects including higher costs, harsher conditions, and discrimination. (aka: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) - Van Riper v. Wexford Health Sources [case]: 10th Circuit case (67 F. App'x 501, 2003) holding that policies creating dangerous understaffing levels leading to inmate-on-inmate violence violate the Eighth Amendment. - Walker State Prison [facility]: A Georgia state prison noted as a positive exception by the DOJ, with fewer incarcerated people reporting fear and a higher proportion of staff positions filled. SOURCES (9) ---------------------------------------- - California Legislative Analyst's Office, Improving California's Prison Inmate Classification System, California Legislative Analyst's Office by California Legislative Analyst's Office (2019-01-01) [official_report, primary] - Cunningham & Sorensen (2007), characteristics associated with serious prison violence by Cunningham, Sorensen (2007-01-01) [academic, primary] - GDC, State Prisons and Classification Fact Sheets, Georgia Department of Corrections by GDC [official_report, primary] - Georgia Department of Corrections, Security Classification Policy 220.02, Georgia Department of Corrections by GDC [official_report, primary] - New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, Policy Spotlight on Inmate Classification, New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee by New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee (2020-07-01) [official_report, primary] - Oxford Bibliographies, Prison Classification — Criminology, Oxford Bibliographies [academic, tertiary] - U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Investigation of Georgia Prisons Findings Report, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division by U.S. Department of Justice (2024-10-01) [official_report, primary] - UNODC, Handbook on the Classification of Prisoners, Criminal Justice Handbook Series, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime by UNODC (2020-01-01) [official_report, primary] - Urban Institute, The Growth & Increasing Cost of the Federal Prison System, Urban Institute by Urban Institute (2013-01-01) [academic, primary]