CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM EVALUATION

The New York City Department of Correction (NYCDOC) oversees
persons in custody (PICs) awaiting trial or serving sentences of one
year or less. NYCDOC engaged the Capstone team to recommend
optimal systems for the assessment and classification of PICs.
The team focused on assessing and communicating current best
practices considered critical to both security and rehabilitation,
informing operations at NYCDOC facilities. Ideally, an amended
system would holistically capture the security, medical and mental
health, and programming needs of PICs. The team’s methodology
consisted of an extensive literature review regarding current
classification practices, detailing best practices and available tools
for risk and needs assessment. To capture the current processes,
constraints, and state of affairs in the NYCDOC, the team
conducted staff interviews and analyzed policies, procedures, and
data. Recommendations focused on the current system, the ideal
system, and the path between the two, paying particular attention to
implementation feasibility.