Bureau of Offender Classification

Protect the public, staff and inmates through the centralized classification of inmates that establishes custody, placements and program needs which safely affords inmates the opportunity to address their successful reentry into the community and reduce their risk of re-offending.

ü Initial Classification: Upon arrival at a DAI inmate intake center, decisions are made on an inmate’s custody, placement and program needs. These decisions are based in part upon: 1) nature and seriousness of the offense, 2) criminal record, 3) length of sentence, 4) motivation for the crime, 5) attitude towards the crime, 6) conduct, 7) time served, 8) medical and clinical needs, 9) risk to a victim, witness or the public, 10) program performance, 11) pending legal matters or detainers, 12) decisions by the parole commission, 13) the results of risk rating instruments, and, 14) inmate vulnerability.

ü Reclassification: Following initial classification, all inmates are reviewed at 12 month intervals (or sooner as needed). During reclassification, custody, placement and program issues are reevaluated utilizing factors highlighted in initial classification and adjusted based upon changes occurring during the inmate’s incarceration.

ü Prison Bed Management - Transportation: BOCM is responsible for the daily and emergency management of DAI prison bed capacities. This includes utilization of Wisconsin county jail beds contracted for inmate use; and DOC prison beds for Wisconsin offenders pending revocation of their parole or probation supervision. The BOCM transportation unit is responsible for coordinating and scheduling inmate transfers required by initial and reclassification classification decisions.

ü Interstate Corrections Compact (ICC) and Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA): The BOCM director is appointed by WI DOC Secretary Gary Hamblin as the Administrator for the Interstate Corrections Compacts and Intergovernmental Agreement with other states and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Wisconsin is a participant in this mutual system of inter-agency incarceration of inmates.

ü International Prisoner Transfer Treaty: The BOCM director is appointed by WI DOC Secretary Gary Hamblin as the DOC Administrator for the International Prisoner Transfer Treaty.

ü Extraordinary Health Care and Geriatric Condition Release Review: Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes s. 302.113(9g), inmates serving confinement time on a class B, bifurcated (truth in sentencing or TIS) felony sentence may petition for early release consideration if criteria for an extraordinary health or geriatric condition are met. BOCM staff review inmate petitions to determine if public interest would be served by a sentence modification and refer appropriate cases to the sentencing court for release consideration.

Once a decision is made to transfer an inmate, they are placed on a waiting list. Transfers are scheduled based upon facility bed availability, transportation schedules and date placed on the transfer list. Transfers may be expedited by the bureau based upon security, medical or clinical need.

While the importance of community contacts through visits are recognized, transfers for this reason are secondary to custody, program priorities and overall bed management requirements of the prison system.

3. How is an inmate’s request to transfer to another state or country correctional system while serving a Wisconsin sentence decided? An inmate’s request to transfer another agency is restricted by treaty, statute, ICC/IGA requirements and agency need. The need of the agencies relative to incarcerating the inmate is a primary consideration when evaluating inmate requests. These transfers must be mutually agreed upon by the participating agencies.

4. If I have questions about a specific inmate’s classification or transfer, who do I contact?

All inmates are assigned a facility social worker that is familiar with the inmates on their caseload and is able to answer most questions about an inmate’s case. Technical questions regarding specific classification procedures should be addressed to the BOCM Offender Classification Specialist at the facility where the inmate is located.

The parole commission is responsible for the review and earned release of eligible inmates to the community. The Governor appoints the Commission's chairperson with the advice and consent of the Senate for a two-year term. The Parole Commission is attached to the Department of Corrections (DOC) for administrative purposes, but it implements its statutory responsibilities independently. (http://www.wi-doc.com/parolecommission.htm) The Bureau of Offender Classification and Movement (BOCM) is responsible for the secure placement and transition of inmates in Department of Correction's prison facilities. BOCM is administered by the Department of Corrections. These separate and independent processes work cooperatively, yet maintain distinct decision authority in implementing their individual missions.