General
The Initial Security Classification Form assesses a prisoner's internal and external risk at the beginning of their sentence.
It must not be used for a review classification.
Eligibility of prisoners - Sections 47(1) and 47(2) Regulation 47
An Initial Security Classification must be assigned to every prisoner, including those sentenced to 3 months or less, within 14 days of admission,
UNLESS
The prisoner is to be released within 21 days of initial reception, in which case assignment of a Security Classification is discretionary;
An Initial Security Classification must be assigned to any prisoner who is recalled to a prison on a final recall to continue serving a sentence.
The focus of the initial security classification is on the prisoner's behaviour prior to sentence date and the offending that resulted in the prisoner's current term of imprisonment and any offence(s) before the courts that have not been decided upon.
Instructions
This is an online process, not designed to support manual (offline) completion.
All questions are answered through selection of an appropriate score.
Whilst you are not able to add comments in individual sections, provision has been made for supporting comments to be entered in section "C. Assign Security Classification" for the initiating officer, and section "D. Approval" for the recommending officer and approving officer.
Calculation of the applicable security classification is automatically undertaken upon completion of the form.
The following sections detail the question to be answered, whether it is pre-populated, the sources referred to and any other relevant information / instruction.
Sources of information
IOMS is used as the principal source for information required for this form (both sections that are pre-populated, and those requiring manual completion).
Other sources you should refer to when completing this form include:
- Criminal and Traffic Conviction History
- Prisoner's penal file
- Judge's sentencing notes
- Warrant of Imprisonment
- Remand Warrants
- IOMS Query Active Charges Report
If there is any inconsistency in information, the information supplied by the primary documents is to be used in preference to other sources.
Identifying details
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Names
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Enter prisoner's family name and first or given name
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Date
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Enter date this form was completed
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| Prison |
Enter name of prison
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PRN
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Enter PRN
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Security Classification
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This will populate from section C. Assign Security Classification
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A. Internal Risk
A.1. Overrides
Note: If the Terrorism charges or offences override is applied, the remainder of Internal Risk will no longer be available for completion, defaulting to a risk Category B, with External Risk defaulting to a risk Category B.
A.1.1. Terrorism charges or offences
Sources
Warrant of imprisonment
Information from Police
Information from Crime Prevention
Pre-populated: NO
Description
This determines if the prisoner is imprisoned.
EITHER for a conviction under the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002
OR has outstanding charges against her under the Act.
If yes, the Security Classification must be overridden to Category B Internal Risk.
A.1.2. Serious assault on any person during this period of detention
Sources
IOMS Query Outstanding Charges Report
Remand Warrants
Pre-populated: NO
Description
If the prisoner has been charged with or convicted of serious assault on any person during this period of detention, the security classification must be overridden to category B.
Serious Assault
An act of physical violence that involves one or more of the following:
- Sexual assault of any form and degree;
- Bodily harm requiring medical intervention (assessment and medical treatment) by medical staff;
- Bodily harm requiring extended periods of ongoing medical intervention.
All serious assault incidents must be initially reported as "alleged", and either confirmed, or not confirmed, after investigation.
A.2. Escapes and attempted escapes
A.2.1. Time since most recent escape or attempt
Sources
IOMS Criminal and Traffic Conviction History
Penal file
Pre-populated: YES
Description
The system will determine the most recent escape or attempted escape for which the prisoner was convicted. It will include the current offence, and escapes from Police custody.
It will not include violations of non-custodial sentences.
The most recent of: date of conviction OR date of incident is used.
The system determines the appropriate category for years since conviction.
If the prisoner has no previous escape convictions, they score 0 points
A.2.2. Number of escapes or attempts
Sources
IOMS Criminal and Traffic Conviction History
Penal file
Pre-populated: YES
Description
The system will count the total number of escapes and escape attempts for which the prisoner has received either a criminal conviction under any Act, or a disciplinary conviction under the Corrections Act 2004.
It will include the current sentence if relevant, as well as escapes from Police custody.
It will not include non-custodial sentence related events.
The system determines the appropriate category for total number of events.
If there are no previous events, they score 0 points.
It is important to note that initially the system will not hold misconduct information.
When implemented, this information will be picked up over a period of time.
Meanwhile, the calculation will have to be undertaken manually, with reference to the penal file.
Note: Please check all IOMS alert records and reactivate any escapes that are listed on the history screen. The review date for the historical escape should then be altered to the new SRD.
All escape alerts should remain in the current view of the alert screen and not be deactivated, which transfers the data into the history screen. On release of an offender the alert is not to be deactivated.
A.3. Mental health
A.3.1. Mental illness or behaviour related issues
Sources
Penal file
IOMS At Risk Assessments and Alerts
Pre-populated: NO
Description
Records are checked to determine if the prisoner has ever had a psychological or psychiatric report prepared.
If the At Risk Assessment or file identifies a report, Health Services are to confirm if mental illness or behaviour related issues are noted.
A.3.2. Completed or currently compliant with medication or treatment for mental illness or behavioural issues
Sources
Penal file
Health Services
At Risk Assessment
Pre-populated: NO
Description
If A.3.1 has identified mental illness or behaviour related issues, medical file notes are checked by Health Services to see if the prisoner has completed or is currently receiving medication or treatment for mental illness or behaviour-related issues.
Health Services are to confirm that the prisoner is compliant with the medication or treatment if the prisoner is currently receiving medication or treatment.
A.4. Violent behaviour
A.4.1. Most serious outstanding charge
Sources
IOMS Query Outstanding Charges Report
Remand Warrants
Pre-populated: YES
Description
The system will determine the most serious outstanding charge the prisoner is facing.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Seriousness Score is identified for this offence, then which group the score falls into is determined using the following table:
| High (H) |
1000 and above |
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Moderate (M)
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100 - 999.99 |
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Low (L)
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20 - 99.99 |
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Lowest (VL)
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0.1 - 19.9 |
A.4.2. Most serious violent offence
Sources
Penal file
IOMS Criminal and Traffic Conviction History
Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Seriousness Scores
Pre-populated: YES
Description
The system will determine the most serious violent offence the prisoner has ever been convicted of during the prisoner's entire offending record.
It will include the current offence in this item, as well as convictions for murder and sexual offences.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Seriousness Score is identified for this offence, then which group the score falls into is determined using the following table:
| High (H) |
1000 and above |
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Moderate (M)
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100 - 999.99 |
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Low (L)
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20 - 99.99 |
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Lowest (VL)
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0.1 - 19.9 |
A.4.3. Time since most recent violent offence
Sources
Penal file
IOMS Criminal and Traffic Conviction History
Pre-populated: YES
Description
The system will determine the time since the most recent violent offence for which the prisoner was convicted prior to the current offence, with reference to the prisoner's entire offending history.
This is calculated as the time between the offence date and the current date.
A.5. Current sentence length
A.5.1. Total length of current sentence(s)
Sources
Warrant of imprisonment
IOMS calculated sentence length IS NOT USED for this item.
Pre-populated: YES
Description
The system will determine the longest of:
the current concurrent sentences OR
the total length of cumulative sentences imposed by the Courts.
If a prisoner is serving an indeterminate sentence (Life or Preventive Detention), they default to the >10y or IND category.
A.6. Seriousness of offence
A.6.1. Most serious current offence
Sources
Penal file
IOMS Criminal and Traffic Conviction History
Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Seriousness Scores
Warrant(s) of Imprisonment
Pre-populated: YES
Description
Only current offence(s) are referenced for this item.
The system will determine the most serious offence the prisoner has been convicted of.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Seriousness Score is identified for this offence, then which group the score falls into is determined using the following table:
| High (H) |
1000 and above |
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Moderate (M)
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100 - 999.99 |
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Low (L)
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20 - 99.99 |
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Lowest (VL)
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0.1 - 19.9 |
B. External Risk
B.1. Terrorism Override
B.1.1. Terrorism charges or offences
Sources
Warrant of imprisonment
Information from Police
Information from Crime Prevention
Pre-populated: NO
Description
This determines if the prisoner is imprisoned
EITHER for a conviction under the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002
OR has outstanding charges against him under the Act.
If yes, the Security Classification must be overridden to Category B External Risk.
B.2. Current sentence length
B.2.1. Total length of current sentence(s)
Sources
Warrant of imprisonment
IOMS calculated sentence length IS NOT USED for this item.
Pre-populated: YES
Description
The system will determine the longest of:
the current concurrent sentences OR
the total length of cumulative sentences imposed by the Courts.
If a prisoner is serving an indeterminate sentence (Life or Preventive Detention), they default to the >10y or IND category.
B.3. Seriousness of offence
B.3.1. Most serious current offence
Sources
Penal file
IOMS Criminal and Traffic Conviction History
Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Seriousness Scores
Warrant(s) of Imprisonment
Pre-populated: YES
Description
Only current offence(s) are referenced for this item.
The system will determine the most serious offence the prisoner has been convicted of.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Seriousness Score is identified for this offence, then which group the score falls into is determined using the following table:
| High (H) |
1000 and above |
|
Moderate (M)
|
100 - 999.99 |
|
Low (L)
|
20 - 99.99 |
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Lowest (VL)
|
0.1 - 19.9 |
B.3.2. Most serious outstanding charge
Sources
IOMS Query Outstanding Charges Report
Remand Warrants
Pre-populated: YES
Description
The system will determine the most serious outstanding charge the prisoner is facing.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Seriousness Score is identified for this offence, then which group the score falls into is determined using the following table:
| High (H) |
1000 and above |
|
Moderate (M)
|
100 - 999.99 |
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Low (L)
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20 - 99.99 |
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Lowest (VL)
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0.1 - 19.9 |
B.3.3. Subject to deportation extradition, or removal order
Sources
IOMS Alert
Penal file
Pre-populated: NO
Description
This indicates if the prisoner is subject to any removal, deportation or extradition order.
Information on the date and type of order is entered in override reason field in section C.3.
B.4. Escapes and attempted escapes
B.4.1. Time since most recent escape or attempt
Sources
IOMS Criminal and Traffic Conviction History
Penal file
Pre-populated: YES
Description
The system will determine the most recent escape or attempted escape for which the prisoner was convicted.
It will include the current offence, and escapes from Police custody.
It will not include violations of non-custodial sentences.
The most recent of: date of conviction OR date of incident is used.
The system determines the appropriate category for years since conviction.
If the prisoner has no previous escape convictions, they score 0 points.
B.4.2. Number of escapes or attempts
Sources
IOMS Criminal and Traffic Conviction History
Penal file
Pre-populated: YES
Description
The system will count the total number of escapes and, escape attempts and escape-related incidents for which the prisoner has received either a criminal conviction under any Act, or a disciplinary conviction under the Corrections Act 2004.
It will include the current sentence if relevant, as well as escapes from Police custody.
It will not include non-custodial sentence related events.
The system determines the appropriate category for total number of events.
If there are no previous events, they score 0 points.
It is important to note that initially the system will not hold misconduct information.
When implemented, this information will be picked up over a period of time.
Meanwhile, the calculation will have to be undertaken manually, with reference to the penal file.
B.4.3. Violation of non-custodial sentences or Home Detention
Sources
IOMS Criminal and Traffic Conviction History
IOMS Receiving Sentence Information
Pre-populated: NO
Description
This highlights any violations reported, including:
- Violation of bail conditions
- Violation of parole conditions
- Sentence recalls resulting from parole or Home Detention violations
Multiple types can be scored.
B.5. Risk to public safety
B.5.1. ROC*ROI score
Sources
IOMS
Pre-populated: YES
Description
The ROC*ROI score is obtained from IOMS, and is aligned to Sentence Management.
The system will determine the appropriate category for the score using the following ranges:
| L |
0.00 to < 0.2999 |
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M
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0.3 to < 0.70 |
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H
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0.70001 or more |
If the prisoner's current sentence is for murder or a sexual offence, the score will default to H.
If RoC*ROI score is not available, the score will default to H.
In the normal course of events, if a RoC*ROI then becomes available, the score is recalculated, resulting in a re-evaluation of External Risk.
B.5.2. Information from other sources
Sources
Judges' sentencing notes
Information from Police
Information from Crime Prevention
Pre-populated: NO
Description
This is an assessment of the prisoner's likelihood of involvement in criminal activity if she is given external access of any kind.
It may be based upon information if it is contained in the file, or recommendations supplied by the source.
It will not contain details of the source or the information on the form.
The level of risk is assessed as:
- H if the recommendation or information raises serious concerns about the prisoner having external access.
- M if the recommendation raises some concerns about the prisoner having external access
- L if the recommendation raises slight concerns about the prisoner having external access.
B.5.3. Internal risk assessment
Sources
Internal risk classification
Pre-populated: Y
Description
This is the prisoner's internal risk assessment calculated in section A of the Initial Classification process.
The level of risk is either:
- A - low internal risk; or
- B - medium internal risk
B.6. Risk to public trust and confidence
These items are assessed in consultation with at least three other officers, one of whom should hold a senior position of PCO or higher.
B.6.1. Risk to public confidence
Pre-populated: NO
Description
This is an assessment of the impact that granting the prisoner external access such as Release to Work, Temporary Removal or Temporary Release may have on the public's perception of the integrity of her sentence, and the extent to which it may undermine public trust and confidence in the secure containment of the prisoner, given the nature of her offending.
This assessment will be undertaken in consultation with 3 other officers, whose key tag numbers will be identified in the override reason field in Section C.3.
Factors considered will have included:
- Sustained or heavy media coverage of the crime - featured news item on national TV, detailed coverage in major papers.
- During trial and sentencing, details of case presented in media.
- Name recognition of perpetrator, victim(s) or crime itself.
- Type of offence - offences involving children or the vulnerable (e.g. elderly); unprovoked random violence (e.g. home invasion).
- Registered victims noted in IOMS.
The level of risk is assessed as:
- H (Highly Likely) if most factors considered are applicable, therefore public perception is likely to be strongly averse.
- M (Moderately Likely) if factors considered are applicable, therefore public perception is likely to be somewhat averse.
- L (Unlikely) if few or no factors considered are applicable, therefore public perception is unlikely to be averse.
B.6.2. Risk to prisoner from public exposure
Pre-populated: NO
Description
This is an assessment of the impact that granting external access may have on the prisoner, and considers factors such as:
- Likely to be subjected to aggressive behaviour from public.
- Likely to be subjected to verbal abuse.
- Likely to be the subject of adverse media attention.
Note: Any specific reasons for the assessment will be noted in the override reason field in section C.3.
The level of risk is assessed as:
- H (Highly Likely) if most factors considered are applicable, therefore the risk to the prisoner is highly likely.
- M (Moderately Likely) if some factors considered are applicable, therefore the risk to the prisoner is somewhat likely, or likely but lesser in duration or intensity.
- L (Unlikely) if few or no factors considered are applicable, therefore the risk to the prisoner is unlikely.
C. Assign Security Classification
C.1. Internal and External Risk Categories
C.1.1. Internal and External Risk scores
The scores calculated for Internal and External Risk into the spaces provided, and total the points for each category
C.2. Determine Preliminary Security Classification
C.2.1. Recommendation
The following table determines the Security Classification:
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If score for Section A is
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0 - 23
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24+
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| then Internal Risk category is |
A
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B
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|
|
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If score for Section B is
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0 - 20
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21+
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then External Risk category is
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A
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B
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C.3. Override reasons and recommendation
Reasons and supporting documentation
This section is primarily used to indicate if the officer believes the Security Classification is incorrect as a result of additional information not being accounted for in the assessment process.
The officer will summarise main reason for override and state where information can be found, or provide details to support override.
This section also contains any relevant information pertaining to individual questions as required, noted during completion of the assessment
Recommended classification
The new security classification that the officer believes should apply, based on the information supplied in section C.3. is recorded here.
C.4. Signature of initiating officer
Signature
Contains the initiating officers signature and date.
D. Approval
D.1. Recommending Officer
Recommending Officer
Confirmation that the Recommending Officer has:
- Checked that the information and scoring is correct.
- Checked that the Security Classification proposed is supported by the information provided.
Prior to sending the signed form to the Approving Officer.
D.2. Approving Officer
Approving Officer
Confirmation that the Approving Officer has:
- Checked that the information supplied on the form matches the categories and scoring selected.
- Checked that the scores are added correctly.
- Determined whether the recommended Security Classification is supported by the information provided.
- Checked the appropriate box indicates the security classification that is being supported.
- Signed as indicated.
- And entered the approved Security Classification into the boxes at the top right of the front page of the form.
E. Advise prisoner
E.1. Pre-issue check
Advising Officer
This section confirms that the Advising Officer has:
- Checked that the approved classification on the form matches the classification entered into IOMS, and that both are correct.
- Determined if there are any discrepancies, and if so, referred back to Approving Officer (ensuring it has not been issued to the prisoner).
- Confirmed satisfaction that the form is correct, by signing and dating the form.
E.2. Advise prisoner
Advise prisoner
In order to finalise the process, it is confirmed that:
- The prisoner has been provided with a copy of the approved security classification.
- The classification form has the date a copy was given to the prisoner.
- The prisoner has signed the form to acknowledge receipt.
- If prisoner refused to sign, the Advising Officer has made a record of this in the space provided.
- A copy of the completed signed form has been included in the prisoner's penal file.
