Schierer & Ritchie LLC can help you understand Illinois’s classification of violent crime offenders.
If you’re convicted of a violent crime, you may wonder what type of prison you’ll be sent to. This article explains how prison assignments work, focusing on the factors determining placement in high-security facilities.
Across the United States, the prison system is divided into three levels of security: minimum, medium, and maximum. Each level serves a specific type of inmate based on the severity of their crime.
Understanding Prison Sentencing for Violent Crimes
Being charged with a violent crime, especially one of a particularly heinous nature, can result in severe consequences, including the possibility of serving time in a maximum-security prison. The decision on whether you are assigned to such a facility largely depends on the length of your prison sentence upon conviction.
Across the United States, the prison system is divided into three levels of security: minimum, medium, and maximum. Each level serves a specific type of inmate based on the severity of their crime and their behavior within the prison system:
- Minimum-security Prisons: These facilities are designed for nonviolent offenders with limited criminal histories. Inmates in minimum-security prisons often include those who have demonstrated exemplary behavior while in higher-security facilities. These prisons feature dormitory-style housing and fewer restrictions on movement and activities.
- Medium-Security Prisons: Inmates in medium-security prisons experience more restrictions than those in minimum-security prisons. These facilities often house inmates in dormitories rather than individual cells and are surrounded by razor-wire fences. Daily movements are more controlled, and there are stricter schedules and monitoring.
- Maximum Security Prisons: The highest level of security is reserved for the most violent offenders. These facilities are designed for inmates who have committed serious crimes, those who pose a threat within lower security prisons, and individuals with a history of escape attempts. Inmates are housed in individual cells, and their movements are highly restricted and closely monitored.
Prison Classification in Illinois
In Illinois, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) classifies inmates based on their sentences and security needs:
- Sentences of 30 Years or More: Due to the severity of their crimes and the length of their sentences, inmates are assigned to maximum-security prisons.
- Sentences of 30 Years or Less: Inmates with these sentences are generally placed in medium-security prisons.
- Sentences of 10 Years or Less: Those serving shorter sentences are typically assigned to minimum security facilities.
Inmate Assessment and Health Care
Upon arrival, the Health Care Unit staff assesses each inmate. This screening process includes obtaining a detailed medical history and addressing any health conditions to ensure appropriate medical care and placement within the prison system.
The classification process aims to ensure that inmates are placed in facilities that match their security needs while addressing their health and rehabilitative requirements. By doing so, the IDOC strives to maintain safety, order, and effective rehabilitation within the prison system.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one is facing charges for a violent crime and need legal assistance, the attorneys at Schierer & Ritchie LLC are here to help. Our dedicated team understands the complexities of the criminal justice system and is committed to providing the best defense possible.