Guest Editorial: A Clarification of Classification

The term “classification” is used in a variety of ways in correctional settings: as the procedure by which incoming inmates are designated to prisons at appropriate security levels; as the process that places prisoners in different living quarters within an institution; as the method that assigns inmates their custody level; and as the practice that results in program activities being selected for prisoners on an individualized basis. Because of its critical role, classification affects every aspect of a correctional system's operation. This article attempts to differentiate among the plethora of meanings as an aid to clearer communication.