Modification of the Offender Classification Plan March ...

1 Modification of the Offender Classification PlanMarch 2002 The Texas Department of Criminal Justice will be implementing new custody assignments forInstitutional Division offenders. The new custody assignments will be available in the Unit LawLibrary via the Classification plan upon implementation. Although most of the basic criteria isremaining the same, the following information will outline the substantial changesto Policy ChangesMOG1 General PopulationLevel 1 Must be within 24 months of parole eligibilityor dischargeMIG2 General PopulationLevel 2If serving 50 years or more*3G must have served 10 years flatNon 3G must have served 5 years flatMIG3(NEW)General PopulationLevel 350 year sentence or more who have not servedthe required 10 years for 3G and 5 years fornon3G. Offenders may not be assigned tomaintenance, SSI, clerk, back dock worker, orany job where the Offender is allowed access tomultiple areas of the unit, and these offendersmay not be housed in a dormitory locatedoutside the main with an SPD removal code of NE, NA, or NS will not be assigned to acustody less restrictive than PopulationLevel 4 Offenders with an SPD of ES, SA, or HS willnot be assigned to custody less restrictive PopulationLevel 5 Those offenders with an ES, who had anescape from a secure TDCJ facility within thepast 5 years will not be assigned to a custodyless restrictive than G5.

2 * 3G offenses - murder, capital murder, indecency with a child, aggravated kidnapping, sexualassault, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated robbery, any offense with an affirmative finding ofthe use of a deadly weapon, and Health and Safety Code Chapter (c), (d), (e), and (f).SPD (Security Precaution Designator)ES - Escape from secure adult correction facility within the last 10 years. NE - escape designator removed by SPDRC, escape less than 10 years - Staff assault with serious injury within the last 10 years. NA - staff assault designator removed by SPDRC, assault less than 10 years - History of taking a staff member hostage. NS - Hostage designator removed by only offenders who will requirereclassification at the time of the conversion will bethose offenders with a computer recommendation of G3, who are assigned to a custody lessrestrictive than G3. All other custodies will automatically convert to the appropriate newlevel as indicated on the PRECAUTION DESIGNATORS (SPD)Administrative Directive (Extraction from)April 25, 2001 Authority:Sections and , Texas Government CodeReference: American Correctional Association Standard 3-4282 Codes documented in an Offender s record that identifies him as a special managementrisk.

3 The designators shall be used for offenders who have a history of escape, takinghostages, assaulting staff, or defeating restraint DEFINITIONS: ESEscape Precaution- Offender who has a history of escape from a secureadult correctional facility. Escape defined as the intentional commissionof an overt act that results in, or would result in, the unauthorizeddeparture from any part of a facility, work assignment, or extended limitsof the facility (climbing perimeter fence, obtaining access tounauthorized areas such as the roof, departing without authorization froma designated area such as a community work program) HSHostage Precaution- Offender who has a history of taking any staffmember hostage for any reason or cause. Hostage situation has occurredif a staff member has been restrained without consent, moved from oneplace to another, or confined (by force, intimidation, deception or othermeans) substantially interfering with his liberty.

4 SAStaff Assault Precaution- Offender who has a history of serious staffassault. A serious staff assault has occurred in an Offender intentionallystrikes a staff member resulting in serious injury, as determined byunit/facility medical staff. Serious injury requires beyond first aid ( ,sutures, a fracture, or hospitalization). SRRestraint Precaution Designator- Offender who has a history ofdefeating restraint devices ( , intentionally slipping out of handcuffs orlegirons)ordefeatingsecurecells. Staff Member:A TDCJ, county jail, Texas Youth Commission, any other statedepartment of corrections, or Federal Bureau of Prisons employee, an employeeworking under contract with the TDCJ; or an approved volunteer. Secure Adult Correctional Facility:A secure TDCJ-ID unit, transfer facility,State Jail facility, privately contracted or leased prison, pre-parole facility,intermediate sanction facility, federal facility, other state s department ofcorrection facility, county jail, or city jail, which houses adult of Security Precaution Designators (SPD) will be placed in the record of each Offender found to have engaged inany one of the four and the Unit Classification Committee (UCC)

5 Will be thedeciding authorities for the placement of the sociological interview, the Sociologist shall reviewthe Offender s previous adult incarceration history to determine ifthe Offender has engaged in any one of the four found to have engaged in any such activity shall havea corresponding SPD placed in their record by the all Classification reviews, the UCC shall review therecord of an Offender to determine if the Offender has engaged inany one of the four activities. Offenders found to have engagedin such activity shall have a corresponding SPD placed in theirrecord by the Sociologist and the UCC shall strictly adhere to the definitionsprovided in this directive to determine if an SPD is necessary in theoffender s case. Security precaution designators are intended to identifyonly the most serious the Sociologist or the UCC find that cause exists for placement of anSPD in an Offender s record, they shall determine the appropriatedesignators.

6 Combinations of SPDs are utilized only in extremesituations where the Offender caused a security situation through multipleacts. ( , the Offender defeated handcuffs and attacked a security officercausing serious injury). Warden or designee shall have the authority to place an SPD in anoffender s record, housing area, or on the Offender s cell door at any timethe Warden or designee determines that a security risk exists. In thesecases, the SPD review shall be held at the next available UCC Needs StatusAn Offender may have a special need ( , medical, geriatric, mental health,intellectual impairment) which requires placement in a special status in a specificfacility. The management parameters associated with the status would prevailover the Offender s custody despite the application of an SPD code. When thespecial need is no longer applicable, the Offender shall be returned to themanagement parameters associated with his Record the Sociologist or UCC has determined cause to place an SPD in anoffender s record, the SPD shall be recorded in the following Classification Review (UC00) Screen 07: The Sociologistor Chief of Unit Classification shall ensure that the currentinstitutional adjustment record screen (screen 07) of the UC00computer record is updated to reflect the appropriate Card/Travel Card: The Sociologist or Chief of UnitClassification shall ensure the SPD is recorded in the jacket ofthe Offender s committee/travel card.

7 Additionally, a (brightcolored) SPD jacket card (larger than one side of the travel card)shall be completed and attached to the inside of the travel Chief of Unit Classification shall ensure the properdocumentation of the results of all UCC hearings concerningSPDs ( , UCC hearing docket, Offender file, travel card andunit countroom hall card). : The Chief of Unit Classification shall notify theAdministrative Segregation Supervisor of any Offender Segregation Supervisor shall ensure that theappropriate designator is recorded and highlighted at the top ofthe I-201 record of the intent of recording and highlighting the designators on the I-201 is to provide security officers and other staff with thesecurity information necessary when managing offenders whorequire the highest degree of precaution. The documentation ofthe I-201 is required; however, the Warden may choose to utilizeadditional methods of notification to his staff to ensureawareness of offenders with the absence of a Chief of Unit Classification , a UnitClassification case manager or staff member designated by theWarden shall ensure the proper documentation of for Removal of Security Precaution DesignatorsSecurity precaution designators are intended for each Offender who has engagedin any one of the four activities identified in the definitions section of thisdirective.

8 SPDs shall be permanent unless the Offender meets one of thefollowing eligibility Criteria for Review for Removal of SPDIf the Offender fits one of the following situations, then he may beconsidered for review for the removal of his Date:The Offender is within 18 months of his firmrelease date (Board of Pardons and Paroles vote, mandatory, ordischarge), with a clear disciplinary record (no case with majorpunishment) for one year (aggravated or non-aggravatedsentence), and it has been at least three years since the incidentwhich caused the placement of the designator. Shouldcircumstances arise that extend the release date beyond therequired 18 months, the UCC shall review the Offender forpossible reinstatement of sentences:The Offender has a non-aggravatedsentence, is an SAT-IV or higher, and maintained a cleardisciplinary record (no case with major punishment) for the pastthree years, and it has been at least five years since the incidentwhich caused the placement of the :Anoffenderhasanextraordinary set of circumstances.

9 For example, if the offenderescaped when he was 23 years old; is now 50 years old; and hasmaintained a clear disciplinary record (no case with majorpunishment) for 20 Precaution Designator Review for Removal ProcessDuring the sociological interview and Classification reviews, theSociologist and UCC will review the record of all offenders with the Sociological interviewer determines that an Offender meetsthe criteria for review for removal, he shall recommend a reviewof the SPD by the Reception and Diagnostic ClassificationCommittee (RDCC). the UCC determines that an Offender meets the criteria forreview for removal, they shall recommend a review by theSecurity Precaution Designator Review Committee (SPDRC)comprised of the Warden, Regional Director and a StateClassification Committee (SCC) RDCC or the SPDRC shall review the Offender s record and,based upon the totality of the circumstances, make adetermination to retain or remove the SPD.

10 Upon a decision toremove the SPD, the SCC member shall remove the SPD fromthe computer records (UC00 screen 07) and, notify the Chief ofUnit Classification who shall ensure the appropriate changes aremade in the Offender s with one or more of the following SPDs are not eligible forassignment to a custody less restrictive than precaution; precaution; assault with a restraint precaution are identified to provide awarenessto security supervisors and officers to use certain precautions in themanagement of these of Security Precaution DesignationAn Offender who seeks to have an SPD removed from his record may do so byrequesting a review of his record by the UCC. Offenders may request such areview no more than once a every 12 months. If the Offender disagrees with theresults of the UCC hearing in his case, he may utilize the Offender grievanceprocedures.