Colorado Prison (DOC) Sentences- Inmate Custody Classification Levels -H. Michael Steinberg
By Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer – H. Michael Steinberg
This Article explains the Colorado Prison Risk Assessment and The Classification Process For The Intake Process At the Denver Regional Diagnostic Center (DRDC).
All offenders are admitted to the DOC through the Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center, a secure facility that handles inmates of all custody levels. During intake, offenders are given an assessment that is used to determine their custody classification.
The classification instrument measures factors such as:
history of violence,
severity of current and prior convictions,
substance abuse,
stability,
and parole eligibility date.
A Score Is Reached
Depending on the score in each of these areas, an inmate may be classified according to one of the five custody levels listed below:
Inmate Custody Classification Levels
Administrative Segregation
For offenders who require maximum security because they have behaved in ways that demonstrate they cannot function appropriately in a less secure general population setting; and/or are extremely difficult to manage in a general population setting.
Close Supervision
For offenders convicted of serious violent crimes and who:
• require close supervision;
• exhibit a high degree of institutional adjustment problems;
• are a high escape risk; and/or
• need close supervision based on their parole eligibility date.
Medium Supervision
For offenders convicted of violent and non-violent offenses and who:
• need a moderate level of supervision;
• exhibit moderate institutional adjustment problems;
• are a low to moderate escape risk; and/or
• have high medical or mental health needs.
Restrictive-Minimum Supervision
For offenders convicted of non-violent offenses and who:
• exhibit very low to no institutional adjustment problems;
• are a low escape risk;
• have a parole eligibility date of less than five years; and
• have low to moderate medical and mental health needs.
Minimum Supervision
For offenders convicted of non-violent offenses and who:
• exhibit no institutional adjustment problems;
• are not an escape risk;
• have a parole eligibility date of less than three years; and
• have minimal or no medical or mental health needs.
DOC Facility Security Levels
An offender’s custody classification determines his or her facility placement. The DOC places inmates according to their assessed custody level in an appropriate facility based on its security level.
Each facility is designated a security level that was defined in statute.
The main external and internal measures differentiating the five security levels of prison facilities in Colorado, from the highest to lowest levels.
Inmate custody classification levels are assigned to facilities by security level.
For instance, an inmate classified as medium custody could be housed in a Level Ill, Level IV, Level V, or private facility.
Correctional Facility Security Levels
Level I
• Double perimeter fencing with razor wire and detection devices
• Towers or stun-lethal fencing
• Continuous patrol of perimeter
• Sally ports (double gates to closely monitor the movement to and from a restricted area)
Level II
• Double perimeter fencing and/or razor wire with detection devices
• Towers
• Continuous patrol of perimeter
Level III
• Wall and/or double perimeter fencing with razor wire and detection devices
• Towers
• Continuous patrol of perimeter
Level IV
• Designated boundaries with single or double perimeter fencing
• Periodic patrol of perimeter
Level V
• Designated boundaries
Internal Measures
• Housing in cells with bars on all openings and with sally-port doors to outside operated by a control center
• Remote controlled sliding and lockable cell doors
• Housing in cells with bars on all openings
• Remote controlled hinged or sliding cell doors that are lockable from the control area
• Housing in cells, rooms, or dormitories with bars on window openings
• Hinged lockable cell doors
• Housing in modular units, cells, or dormitories
• Hinged cell doors with lockable exterior doors
• Housing in individual rooms or dormitories
• Non-security cell doors with lockable exterior doors
Please Feel Free To Call
H. Michael Steinberg has been a Colorado criminal law specialist attorney for 29 years. For the First 13 years of his career, he was an Arapahoe – Douglas County District Attorney Senior prosecutor. In 1999 he formed his own law firm for the defense of Colorado criminal cases. In addition to handling tens of thousands of cases in the trial courts of Colorado, he has written hundreds of articles regarding the practice of Colorado criminal law and frequently provides legal analysis on radio and television, appearing on the Fox News Channel, CNN and Various National and Local Newspapers and Radio Stations. Please call him at your convenience at 720-220-2277
Other Articles of Interest:
- A Close Look At The Colorado Crimes Of Assault – First Degree -18-3-202, Second Degree – 18-3-203, Third Degree -18-3-204, and Vehicular Assault – 18-3-205
- Colorado Felony Sentencing For Crimes Of Violence 18-1.3-406 CRS
- Understanding Escape Crimes In Colorado – Escape From Community Corrections
- Colorado State Crimes – Felony Assaults First and Second Degree (18-3-202),(18-3-203)
- Colorado Misdemeanor and Felony Sentencing Laws – What Is My Sentence Going To Be?
