SOP 215.18: Resident Classification

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|`Functional Area: `
`FACILITY OPERATIONS`|`Reference Number: `
`IID05-0002`|`Revises`
`Previous`
`Effective Date:`
`5/01/05`|
|`Subject:`
`RESIDENT CLASSIFICATION`|||
|`Authority:`
`DONALD/DEPETRO`|`Effective Date:`
`12/15/07`|`Page``1`` of`
`7 `|

 I. POLICY:

     Each Transitional Center shall establish and maintain a
     Classification Committee. The committee shall be responsible
     to the Superintendent for the oversight of resident
     classification and assignment including security level,
     resident employment and program assignments, job search,
     transfer requests, administrative segregation hearings, and
     other aspects of facility operations, as detailed in this SOP.

 II. APPLICABILITY:

     All Transitional Centers

III. RELATED DIRECTIVES:

     A. GDC Rules:125-2-4-.03 Identification and Classification,
     125-3-1-.02 Resident Security Classification

     B. GDC SOPs: 215.18 Security Reclassification, 222.01 Inter     Institutional Transfers, 508.32 Access to Services/Programs,
     215.17 Treatment/Habilitation Planning

     C. 107.04 Work Activity Performance Report

     D. ACA Standards: 3-4288 Resident Appeal

 IV. DEFINITIONS:

     NONE

 V. ATTACHMENTS:

     Attachment 1 - Classification Committee Stamp

     Attachment 2 - Classification Committee Form

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     Attachment 3 - Classification Appeal Form

  Attachment 4 – Special Parole Review Recommendation Form

     Attachment 5 – Initial File Review Form

VI. PROCEDURE:

     A. COMMITTEE OPERATES AS A CENTRALIZED COORDINATING FUNCTION:
     The Committee shall be responsible for all resident initial
     assignments, reclassification actions, program assignments,
     employment, and transfer requests. The Committee's decisions
     are subject to the review and approval of the Superintendent.

     B. The Classification Committee will develop and maintain an
     Operations Manual, which is to include pertinent information
     and requirements, as specified in this SOP.

        1. Classification Committee Composition: The
        Classification Committee membership, with appropriate
        alternates, shall be designated in writing, by the
        Superintendent. At a minimum, the committee will consist
        of the following:

- `Chairperson:` `Assistant` `Superintendent` `or`

              Superintendent’s designee

- `C/T` `Member:` `Selected` `based` `on`

              experience/ability

- `Security Member: Chief of Security or designee`

           Other staff, such as counselors, the Business
           Manager, or medical personnel, may be assigned to
           assist the Committee.

        2. Classification Meetings: The Classification Committee
        shall meet at least once per week, as scheduled by the
        Committee Chairperson. The scheduling of Initial and
        Reclassification meetings has been identified as a best
        practice. The Appropriate stamp ( attachment #1 ) shall be
        used to document Committee actions in each resident's
        institutional file.

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C. CLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE OPERATIONS:  Each Transitional
Center shall implement a Classification and Assignment system
that ensures consistency of the classification process:

   1. Arrival Briefing:  Upon arrival at the Center,
   residents shall attend an initial security briefing.
   This briefing will include, but not be limited to,
   security procedures, emergency procedures, right-to-know,
   facility tour, etc. At this time all forms will be
   signed, i.e.; Hazardous Chemical/Right to Know
   acknowledgement, Acknowledgement of Center Rules and
   Regulations, PREA, surrender of property in the event of
   escape, paycheck/escape fee agreement, funds endorsement,
   GDC interview request form, and Orientation Checklist. In
   addition, newly assigned residents should be
   checked/evaluated by medical staff with in 24 hours of
   arrival.

   2. File Review:  The Superintendent or designee shall
   appoint a counselor to conduct a review of the newly
   assigned residents institutional file/SCRIBE case notes.
   Findings should be noted on the Initial File Review Form
   ( attachment #5 ). Copies of this completed form should be
   routed to the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent
   and Chief of Security for review with 24 hours of
   arrival.

   3. Orientation Phase: During the orientation phase, staff
   shall review each resident's history and observe his/her
   behavior in preparation for making initial
   recommendations. A counselor(s) shall be designated to
   complete all necessary paperwork and case management
   requirements. This Orientation Phase should be at a
   minimum fourteen 14 days in length.

   4. Initial Classification Committee : The Committee will
   ensure that a thorough assessment of needs, risks,
   capabilities, and all intake activities, are completed
   before residents are scheduled for Initial
   Classification. Work Release residents are classified at
   the end of the Orientation Phase and long-term
   maintenance residents within 30 days of arrival.

      a. Preparation for Initial Classification: Each
      newly admitted resident shall be evaluated in terms

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of security level, behavior history, substance abuse
history, medical profile, MH/MR needs, work history
and skills, number of adult incarcerations, gang
affiliation, and program needs/requirements.

   1) Prior to Initial Classification, all phases
   of intake processing must be completed. The
   counselor assigned to the resident shall
   evaluate the resident through a thorough file
   review. The review will consist of TOPS
   reports, SCRIBE case notes, program
   requirements, initial interview and observation
   of the resident's initial behavior and
   adjustment to the facility. Any unusual
   findings relating to the resident’s history
   should be reported to the Superintendent
   immediately. Counselors shall ensure that all
   required activities and documents are
   completed, prior to submitting the resident to
   the Classification Committee. This includes
   the completion of the Classification Form (see
   Attachment 2), and any other documentation
   required by facility management.

b. Initial Classification Committee
Responsibilities: The Classification Committee shall
conduct an initial review and classification of each
resident, with assignments made as appropriate. This
should occur at the end of the 30-day orientation
phase.

   1) The Classification Form ( attachment #2 )
   shall be used to structure the Committee's
   review and interview. It is the responsibility
   of the Committee to include on the form any
   additional information or clarifications
   brought forward during their interview and
   questioning of the resident. Areas or issues
   requiring follow-up by the counselor and/or
   resident should be addressed and documented in
   the resident's facility administrative
   file/SCRIBE case notes.

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   2) The Committee will review the status of
   programming. In instances where residents are
   received from other permanent facilities, the
   Committee will determine if program information
   is being tracked accurately. Also, in cases
   where it can be confirmed that a resident was
   participating in a group(s) at the sending
   facility, the Committee should immediately re   enroll the resident, if appropriate.

c. The Committee shall inform the resident his/her
program requirements, reinforcing the resident's
responsibility in addressing identified needs, as
opportunities are made available to them.

d. Resident Classification Attendance: All residents
shall be REQUIRED to attend Initial Classification.

e. Program Waiver: Residents will be advised, during
the initial classification meeting, that program
assignments are equivalent to work assignments and
can not be waived.

f. Work Activity Performance Report (WAPR): Requests
to remove residents from a permanent maintenance
detail or an OJT (On Job Training) program
assignment, must be supported by a completed Work
Activity Performance Report (WAPR). In instances
where the reason for requesting an assignment change
is unsatisfactory performance, the Committee should
verify that other appropriate action has been taken.

   1) WAPR's will also be used for the following
   reasons:

      (a) When supervisors want to communicate
      exceptionally good or poor performance to
      a resident's counselor. This should be the
      first intervention, prior to requesting
      removal from an assignment.

      (b) Counselors should request WAPR's to
      gather current information necessary for
      completing Early Release Considerations.

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   2) WAPR's shall be placed in the resident
   facility administrative files, along with any
   documentation of counselor intervention.

   3) Residents who display poor performance
   during the orientation phase may be re-cycled
   for any portion or all of the 30-day
   orientation phase.

g. Early Release Consideration: In the event that a
resident has displayed exemplary conduct for an
extended period of time, the Superintendent may
recommend an Early Release Consideration to be
conducted. The assigned counselor shall be
responsible for gathering pertinent documentation
concerning the exemplary conduct. This
recommendation, ( attachment #4 ) once approved by the
Superintendent, will be forwarded to the Georgia
Board of Pardons and Paroles for an early release
consideration. This recommendation will only take
place when and if certain preliminary criteria are
met. Those criteria include:

   1) This type of recommendation cannot be made
   on the behalf of a resident who (a) was
   convicted of a “Serious Violent Felony” as
   defined in OCGA 17-10-6.1 and (b), has a
   sentence of less than life.

   2) A resident must be assigned to the work
   release program a minimum of 90 days.

   3) A resident who has not committed a sex
   offense or a crime against children.

h. Documentation of Classification Committee
Actions: All Classification Committee actions shall
be documented in a written report maintained on
file. After each Classification meeting, the report
shall be forwarded, for review and signature to the
Chairperson, Chief of Security, Care and Treatment
and Superintendent.

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        5. Reclassification: Special circumstances may require the
        committee to conduct a “Reclassification of a Resident”.
        These circumstances include but are not limited to:

           a. Poor Job Performance

           b. Addition sentence received from Court Appearance

           c. Change in Medical Profile

           d. Behavioral Issues

           NOTE: In the event of a Reclassification, the
           Classification Committee Form ( attachment #1 ) will
           be used to document the classification action.

VII. RETENTION SCHEDULE:

     Upon completion, attachments 1,2, 3 and 4 will be will be
     placed in the resident institutional file and retained
     according to the official retention schedule for that file.