[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 227 (Friday, November 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70615-70617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30034]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Classification of High 
Risk and Special Management Inmates in Prison Systems

AGENCY: National Institute of Corrections, Department of Justice.

ACTION: Solicitation for a cooperative agreement.

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SUMMARY: This cooperative agreement will examine contemporary issues 
and newer developing topics in prison classification that will 
concentrate on classification of high risk, aggressive, disruptive and 
predatory offenders in general population, close custody management 
units, maximum custody or administrative segregation. This cooperative 
agreement will also direct attention to special topics such as 
identification and classification of inmates involved in serious 
incidents who are mentally ill; assessing risks of younger inmates and 
sexual predators within prison systems; and application of risk 
assessment instruments for civil commitments.
    The project will encompass offender management, case management and 
internal classification practices for housing and supervising inmates 
to promote a safer environment and control serious disruptive behavior. 
This will include reduction of predatory behavior and assaults on staff 
or other inmates within the prison setting, and minimizing the need for 
protective custody and super max or long term segregation placements.
    The scope of this project will include but will not be limited to: 
Conducting research and identifying best policies and practices in 
prison classification for determining which offenders in general 
population are the higher risks; determining appropriate levels of 
supervision and control that are required; determining appropriate 
housing, program and work assignments; assessing risk to the public as 
well as to the institution; and examining effective classification and 
case management methods for transitioning inmates from segregation to 
general population and from general population to the community at the 
time of release

[[Page 70616]]

Background

    The experience of many practitioners and the evidence from 
available research suggests that within a prison facility, groups of 
inmates may have the same requirements for a security level but 
different requirements for supervision and control. For example, some 
inmates may need confinement in a facility with a secure perimeter but 
based on their institutional behavior present no serious management 
problems. Other inmates may be a threat within the facility to other 
inmates, to staff, or to the orderly operation of the facility.
    Better objective classification systems include internal procedures 
to document and assess institutional misconduct and serious disruptive 
and assultive behavior, such as escapes, assaults on staff and inmates, 
and use of weapons, and symptoms of mental illness that need to be 
clinically assessed, in order to properly classify and provide a safer 
environment for staff and inmates.

Project Objectives

    This project will build capacities in correctional agencies to 
update and improve objective classification systems by developing 
better knowledge of research and strategies through appropriate and 
effective correctional classification practices centered on the 
identification, classification and management of high risk and special 
management inmates in prison systems. NIC expects that the project will 
involve practitioners and correctional experts selected for an Advisory 
Committee which will assist in identifying the critical concerns of the 
field; alert the project team to promising classification operational 
practices; and advise them on what information would be most useful to 
correctional policy makers, managers and practitioners.
    Applications submitted must propose a methodology to involve 
correctional practitioners in all phases of the effort to strengthen 
the project's ability to effectively impact correctional policy and 
operations. The application will also need to identify the people 
proposed for the Advisory Committee, with at least three individuals 
who have strong prison operations experience.

Purpose

    The purpose of funding this initiative is to conduct research and 
develop products specifically focused on classification of high risk 
offenders. These products will include, but will not be limited to, a 
substantive publication of 100-200 pages and an 8-hour training module, 
with curriculum and training materials.
    The outcomes anticipated from conducting the research and 
developing the publication and training module are that:
    1. Correctional agencies will allocate resources or manage more 
effectively as a result of objective offender classification systems 
which promote informed, rational, and consistent decision-making with 
high-risk offenders.
    2. Agencies will be able to better manage and/or reduce offender 
risks resulting in improved staff, offender, and community safety by 
using objective classification at key decision points.
    3. Agencies will be able to improve information on offender risks 
and needs and be able to utilize information for planning appropriate 
intervention strategies as a result of objective classification.

Scope of Work

    To address the scope of work, there will need to be a project 
management team of classification experts that are knowledgeable of 
correctional operations and principles of objective prison 
classification; have expertise in assessment, evaluation and validation 
research; are informed and sensitive to requirements for addressing 
special needs and management issues; and have demonstrated 
effectiveness in project management; as well as the ability to write 
well.
    The major components of the work include:
    1. Conducting a minimum of two meetings with an Advisory Committee 
appointed in collaboration and with the approval of NIC to provide a 
forum for gathering information, feedback and recommendations regarding 
objective prison classification to address high-risk offenders and 
inmates who present the most serious management problems and/or 
disruptive behavior in general population.
    2. Identifying current and emerging issues and best practices, and 
compiling information on correctional research and from correctional 
agencies on what has been learned and applied successfully regarding 
sound classification procedures for high risk and special management 
offenders.
    3. Developing an 8-hour training module, the training curriculum, 
and related training material that can be incorporated into prison 
classification training programs offered by NIC. At a minimum, this 
training will:
    A. Describe the role of classification in the identification and 
management of high risk inmates, and reducing disruptive behavior and 
violence in prison;
    B. Highlight findings from research on effective programs and 
management strategies for high risk inmates and the best practices from 
the field; and
    C. Provide examples of better classification policies and 
strategies for managing high risk inmates in general population, as 
well as special management, protective custody and administrative 
segregation populations.
    4. Developing a substantive 100-200 page publication on 
classification of high risk offenders. In lieu of a single publication, 
consideration may be given to a proposal for a series of publications 
dealing with topical issues that could be published together for a 
comprehensive discussion on classification of high risk offenders.
    The publication or publications proposed will require development 
of a title, description, and format, including objectives and other 
relevant information sufficient to permit objective review and feedback 
by the NIC project monitor and selected correctional professionals 
before formal preparation of the document begins. A bibliography and 
review of relevant literature will need to be produced in conjunctions 
with the writing of document(s).
    Drafts of documents will be submitted for review by the NIC project 
monitor and designated correctional professionals within a time frame 
that will be sufficient for review and revision prior to the conclusion 
of the project.
    In consultation with NIC, documents developed through the 
cooperative agreement must be submitted as an edited final camera-ready 
hard copy and 3.5" computer disk or 100 mg zip drive disk using 
WordPerfect 7.0 or higher software for use with IBM-compatible 
computers with Windows operating systems for NIC publication in 
accordance with the NIC Preparation of Printed Materials for 
Publication. It will be the responsibility of the award recipient to 
secure written approval to use copyrighted materials and to provide the 
original approval with the documents.
    If a survey is included in the proposal, the award recipient will 
be responsible for obtaining written approval in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act and providing documentation of that approval 
prior to conducting a survey. All products from this funding effort 
will be in the public domain and available to interested parties 
through the National Institute of Corrections.

[[Page 70617]]

    The successful applicant will also need to ensure that there will 
be coordination with the NIC project monitor at critical points in the 
project development and as necessary to ensure clarity and 
accomplishment of goals and satisfactory outcomes.
    The applicant must provide goals, objectives, and methods of 
implementation for the project that are consistent with the 
announcement. Objectives should be clear, measurable, attainable, and 
focused on the methods used to conduct the project. Applicants should 
provide an implementation plan for the project and include a schedule 
which will demonstrate milestones for significant tasks in chart form. 
Work activities will be coordinated closely with the NIC project 
monitor. The applicant must plan for the initial meeting with the 
Advisory Committee to be conducted in the first quarter of the project.

    Authority: Public Law 93-415.

Funds Available

    The award will be limited to $200,000 (direct and indirect costs) 
and project activity must begin within 30 days of the date of award and 
be completed within 12 months. Expenses for conducting the meetings 
with the Advisory Committee, including their travel, must be 
incorporated into the proposed budget. No funds will be transferred to 
state or local governments. Funds may not be used for construction, or 
to acquire or build real property.
    This project will be a collaborative venture with the NIC Prisons 
Division. All products from this funding effort will be in public 
domain and available to interested agencies through the National 
Institute of Corrections.

Deadline for Receipt of Applications

    Applications must be received by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10, 
2001. They should be addressed to: Director, National Institute of 
Corrections, 320 First Street NW., Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534. 
Hand delivered applications should be brought to 500 First Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20534. The front desk will call Bobbi Tinsley at (202) 
307-3106, extension 0 for pickup.

Addresses and Further Information

    Requests for the application kit should be directed to Judy Evens, 
Cooperative Agreement Control Office, National Institute of 
Corrections, 320 First Street NW., Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534; or 
by calling 800-995-6423 ext. 159, 202-307-3106 ext. 159, or e-mail: 
[email protected].
    A copy of this announcement, application forms may be obtained 
through the NIC web site: http://www.nicic.org (click on ``Cooperative 
Agreements'').
    All technical and/or programmatic questions concerning this 
announcement should be directed to Sammie Brown, Program Manager, at 
320 First Street, NW., Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534; or by calling 
800-995-6423 ext. 126, 202-307-3106 ext. 126, or e-mail: 
[email protected].

Eligible Applicants

    An eligible applicant is any state or general unit of local 
government, public or private agency, educational institution, 
organization, team, or individual with the requisite skills to 
successfully meet the outcome objectives of the project. Collaborative 
teams involving practitioners, researchers, and other individuals with 
expertise and experience in specialized prison classification 
functional areas are encouraged.

Review Considerations

    Applications received under this announcement will be subjected to 
an NIC Peer Review Process.

Number of Awards

    One (1).

NIC Application Number

    01P09. This number should appear as a reference line in your cover 
letter and also in box 11 of Standard Form 424.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    16.602.

Executive Order 12372

    This project is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 
12372.

    Dated: November 17, 2000.
Larry B. Solomon,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 00-30034 Filed 11-22-00; 8:45 am]
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