SOP_NUMBER: 220.02
TITLE: Security Classification
REFERENCE_CODE: IIC02-0002
DIVISION: Facilities Division
TOPIC_AREA: 220 Policy-Facilities Diagnostics/Classification
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2023-12-08
WORD_COUNT: 1612
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/105806
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/220.02/

SUMMARY:
This policy establishes the Georgia Department of Corrections' process for assessing and assigning security classification levels (close, medium, or minimum security) to all offenders in state and private facilities. The Security Classification Instrument (Next Generation Assessment) is an automated system that analyzes institutional risk factors to determine appropriate housing, supervision levels, and work assignments. The Warden/Superintendent or designated staff review system-generated classifications and may submit Override requests to Central Office if they believe a different security level is more appropriate.

KEY_TOPICS: security classification, custody level, institutional risk assessment, close custody, medium custody, minimum custody, NGA assessment, SCRIBE system, Override request, facility classification, housing assignments, supervision level, offender risk factors, Central Office review, classification review, security level change

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|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|
|**Policy Number:** 220.02|**Effective Date:** 12/08/2023|**Page Number:** 1 of 6|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level II: Required Offender<br>Access|


**I.** **Introduction and Summary:**





The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) administers a Security Classification
instrument to all offenders to assess institutional risk and recommend a Security
Classification level of close, medium, or minimum security. The goal of this process
is to protect the public by operating safe and secure facilities while ensuring the
protection and safety of GDC staff, contractors, visitors, and other offenders. A valid
and reliable assessment of offender institutional risk assists staff in maximizing the
utilization of GDC facility assets and programing resources. This policy is applicable
to all state, private county facilities and transitional centers.

**II.** **Authority:**

A. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-2-4-.03 and 125-3-1-.02.

B. GDC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): 107.04 Risks and Needs

Assessment, 207.04 Offender Work Details, 209.01 Offender Discipline, 222.01
Inter-Institutional Transfers, 209.06 Administrative Segregation, and 508.21
Treatment Plans.

C. ACA Standards: 5-ACI-5B-01, 5-ACI-5B-03, 5-ACI-5B-04, 5-ACI-5B-06, 2-CO
4B-03, and 5-ACI-5A-02.

**III.   Definitions:**

A. **Security Classification**    - A comprehensive measure of institutional risk factors is

used to determine appropriate housing, levels of supervision, and work detail
assignments.

B. **Exception Review**    - A Classification Review performed to determine if new

circumstances warrant the submission of an immediate security review and
Override to justify changing the offender’s Security Classification.


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
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|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|
|**Policy Number:** 220.02|**Effective Date:** 12/08/2023|**Page Number:** 2 of 6|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level II: Required Offender<br>Access|



C. **Override**    - Upon analysis and investigation, an Override may result in the

evaluator recommending a higher or lower custody level status. This consideration
is beyond any mandatory considerations within the classification instrument; along
with the reviewer’s assessment regarding an offender’s observed and documented
behavior.

D. **Threshold/Override Review**    - A Threshold/Override Review is conducted every

twelve (12) months on those offenders whose security level was the result of an
Override or when the offender’s system-generated security level changes by
crossing the threshold from one security level to another.

**IV.   Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:**

Security Classification: Upon placement into the custody of GDC, the Security
Classification Instrument, Next Generation Assessment (NGA), generates a security
level in SCRIBE for each offender. The Security Classification Instrument is an
automated system that analyzes several factors. Each factor is assigned a unique
weight and processed by an algorithm that produces a security level. The identified
security level is reviewed by the Warden-Superintendent/Designee for final approval
and comment if necessary. The Security Classification instrument requires a one-level
analysis of the system-generated security level by the Warden/Superintendent or
Designee to review and approve.

The designee shall be one of the following: Chief Counselor, S.I.P. Coordinator,
Deputy Warden of Care Treatment (at some facilities this is the Deputy Warden of
Care and Treatment/Security), Assistant Superintendent, Diagnostic Director (if
applicable) or the Deputy Warden of Security. Security Classification reviews shall be
completed directly in SCRIBE by the Warden/Superintendent or Designee and not on
paper to be entered later by other staff.

The Warden/Superintendent or Designee shall review the system-generated security
level and determine if it is appropriate. If appropriate, they shall confirm this security
level in SCRIBE. This process will finalize the security level.


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
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|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|
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|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level II: Required Offender<br>Access|



If Warden/Superintendent or Designee does not concur, an Override request can be
submitted to change the security level. The system allows for a limited number of
request Overrides. The request is submitted through SCRIBE which will produce a list
of acceptable Override reasons. Supporting comments are necessary to facilitate a
change in security status. Comments should include supporting data, justification for
the request, and details citing documented information. Central Office will review and
has final authority.


A. System-Generated Security Level Changes: System-generated changes to an

offender’s security level shall be through the Security Classification application in
SCRIBE. The Warden-Superintendent/Designee shall refer, periodically, to the
Warden’s/Superintendent’s Queue in SCRIBE to ensure that changes to an
offender’s security level are processed within ten (10) business days of the
offender’s arrival at the facility. The Warden-Superintendent/Designee, also, shall
ensure that changes to the offender’s security level are appropriate.

B. Recommended Custody Level Override: As outlined above (IV.A) the Warden
Superintendent/Designee shall review the security assessment of each offender
under GDC supervision. If upon conclusion of their review, the WardenSuperintendent/Designee determines that the system-generated security level is
not appropriate, an Override can be submitted. The Override process is completed
in full and submitted through the Security Classification application in SCRIBE.
Specific attention shall be made to document in detail the justification and provide
an alternative security recommendation.

C. Central Office Override Review: Designated staff in Central Office/ Facility

Operations shall review and approve all Override requests. These reviews shall be
completed within ten (10) business days upon submission of the Override. If
during the review, questions arise or the submission needs further clarification, the
reviewers shall contact whoever submitted the Override. Final decisions are
entered into the SCRIBE Security Classification application and if a change is
approved, the new security level shall be displayed in the offender’s SCRIBE
record.


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
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|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|
|**Policy Number:** 220.02|**Effective Date:** 12/08/2023|**Page Number:** 4 of 6|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level II: Required Offender<br>Access|



D. Non-Discretionary Override: Offenders serving certain sentences are subject to

specific restrictions in terms of the assigned security level and shall conform to a
specific security level regardless of the system-generated security level in
SCRIBE.


1. Upon the Security Classification review by the WardenSuperintendent/Designee, an Override can only be submitted following
guidelines outlined above in IV.B. These non-discretionary over-ride
considerations include:


a. Life Without Parole: The security level of an offender sentenced to Life

Without Parole shall never be lower than CLOSE.

b. Under Death Sentence: Offenders currently under Death Sentence shall

never be reduced and must remain CLOSE security.

c. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detainer: Offenders with an

active Detainer from the ICE shall never receive a security level lower than
MEDIUM.

d. Time Restriction: Offenders serving sentences that exceed 15 years, to

include Life with Parole, shall never receive a security level lower than
MEDIUM. An Override can be requested to reduce or raise an offender’s
security level, but it shall never go below MEDIUM security.

e. Sex Offender: The security level of an offender whose current sentence is

a sex offense shall never be lower than MEDIUM. If the offender has been
identified as a sexual predator, then that offender’s security level shall
never be below CLOSE.

f. Escape/Abscond History: Offenders who have had a sentence and/or

Disciplinary Report for an escape or escape attempt from inside a secure
facility within the past five years or serving sentences for abscond, escape,


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
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|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|
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|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level II: Required Offender<br>Access|



or attempting to abscond/escape from a Transitional Center within the past
two years, shall never receive a security level lower than MEDIUM. An
Override can be requested for such offenders to reduce or raise an
offender’s security level, but again it shall never go below MEDIUM
security.


Threshold/Override Reviews: Security Threshold/Override Reviews shall be
conducted when there are behavioral or operational reasons to submit an Override
to change security level. The following are examples:

1. An offender whose security level was established by an Override.

2. An offender whose security level was set as a result of an Exception Review,

resulting from an extra-ordinary event as noted below.

3. An offender’s security level crosses over the established security scale

threshold from one level to another, i.e., from medium security to close security
or from close security to medium security; and/or

4. An offender’s behavior warrants a security level change. (Follow the process

outlined above in IV.B)


E. Exception Reviews: Exception security reviews may be initiated whenever GDC

staff recognizes the need. The following circumstances are examples that provide
cause to complete an Exception Review:

1. Crime of Violence: Any act which involved killing or serious assault, including

an aggravated sexual act, taking part in a riot, kidnapping, and hostage-taking.


2. Major Prison/Center Infraction: Conviction of any disciplinary infraction

which falls in the "greatest" severity category, (SOP 209.01 Attachment 5) or
conviction of three (3) or more "high" severity infractions for assaultive


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
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|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|**Policy Name:**Security Classification|
|**Policy Number:** 220.02|**Effective Date:** 12/08/2023|**Page Number:** 6 of 6|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level II: Required Offender<br>Access|



behavior, high value contraband, weapons and/or drugs, within ninety (90)
days.

3. Major Threat to Institutional Operations: Current information identifying an

offender to be a major threat to institutional operations, i.e., STG leader.

**V.** **Attachments:** None.

**VI.** **Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:** None.