Correctional Classification and the Prediction of Institutional Adjustment

Abstract

Each of 293 minimum security prisoners was rated by classification of staff members according to the likelihood of serious disciplinary infractions and escapes from custody. Follow-up data were then obtained, and the predictive validity of these ratings was compared with that of selected information extracted from the files of inmates. In predicting outcomes, only escape ratings were statistically significant, and neither escape nor disciplinary ratings contributed significant criterion variance when combined with objective variables. The findings were discussed in terms of the need for both increased predictive accuracy and explicit consideration of the welfare of inmates when making correctional classification decisions.

Correlates of Institutional Misconduct Among State Prisoners

“…While the intergroup differences resulting from the Predictive Attribute Analysis are substantial, collectively these factors are only modestly related to infraction-rate group status among prisoners, hence the use of these presituational characteristics alone for classification or prediction purposes within the correctional systems would not be advised. However, it should be noted the variables examined here perform considerably better as predictors of institutional misconduct than do predictive judgments of correctional staff members (Holland and Holt, 1980). The limitations of this study must be considered in the evaluation of the findings.…”