Running head: REHABILITATION 3
Assessment of special needs prisoners is influenced by the needs and risks factors
associated with the offender. For instance, risks factors look into the dangers likely to be
posed by the offender to the community, others and self while the needs assessment address
the requirements such as medical attention, education, relationships, accommodation, drug
rehabilitation and criminal justice systems among others. Special prisoners are entitled to
sufficient assessment and provision of essential elements that cater for their special needs.
Diagnoses of offenders are significant in identifying their mental and physical disabilities.
Intellectual diagnoses provide a basis for negotiation of the prisoner’s demands when carrying
out supervision and management of the population. Intellectual diagnoses are characterized by
impairment of social intelligence and cognitive disorders which affect an individual’s
judgment. Therefore, diagnoses are essential when passing judgment to offenders and also in
provision of psychological and physiological therapies.
Recidivism prediction facilitates the determination of the type of detainment and
treatment to offer prisoners with risk of re-offending. Rehabilitation of prisoners with special
needs should thus be monitored and provided treatment options that reduce the likelihood of
committing future crimes. This facilitates effective correction and reduction of crimes in the
future. Classification involves the placement of offenders in various levels of custody
depending on their needs and correction nature applied. The custody classes include the
medium, close, minimum and maximum levels and are selected depending on the
management risks they pose in the facility. Classifications are also groped as objective or
subjective based on the intended purpose and the administrator’s judgment and experience.
Impacts of special needs offenders on the prison population management
The management of prison population is challenged by the presence of prisoners with
special needs. For instance, there is increased population which increases management
