Individualisation 76. Meeting these general principles requires individualisation of sentence planning. The CPT proceeds from the knowledge, based on its own ex­p erience as well as that of many prison administrations, that lifesentenced prisoners are not necessarily more dangerous than other prisoners (see also paragraph 72); many of them have a long-term interest in a stable and conflict-free environment. Equally, those who start their sentence as dangerous may well become significantly less so, not just with the passage of time during lengthy sentences but also with targeted interventions and humane treatment. After the imposition of the life sentence, individualisation should continue through the process of sentence planning based on an assessment of the individual situation. This requires a lengthy preliminary assessment, preferably conducted in a dedicated place with appropriate staff in the form of experienced and specially trained prison officers, psychologists, educators and social workers. A psychiatrist should also be involved when there are indications of possible mental health issues. The task of that team, working in co-operation with the prisoner, is to develop as full an understanding as possible of the prisoner’s situation, both inside a custodial environment and in the community, and the needs the prisoner has for particular interventions to render the stay in prison as beneficial as possible in terms of resolving identified needs and preparation for release. Use should be made of accredited risk and needs assessment instruments, supplemented by professional judgment.12 The resulting analysis and plan, which should be shared as far as possible with the prisoner, becomes a source document for all persons working with the prisoner. It should be reviewed on a regular basis, with feedback given to the prisoner. Implementing the sentence plan 77. The guiding principles in implementing the sentence plan are very much the same as for all prisoners. Prisoners should not be subject to any restrictions which are not required for the maintenance of good order, security and discipline within the prison. In particular, the level of security applied to each individual should be proportionate to the risk presented by the person. The nature of the offence is only one factor in assessing this. As a matter of principle, the im­position of the detention regime of lifesentenced prisoners should lie with the prison authorities and always be based on an individual assessment of the prisoner’s situation, and not be the automatic result of the type of sentence imposed (i.e. the sentencing judge should not determine the regime). 78. Equally, except in the assessment phase, life-sentenced prisoners should not routinely be kept apart from other sentenced prisoners, although it would not be objectionable for long-term prisoners to be kept apart from very short-term prisoners. The length of sentence does not necessarily bear any relationship to the level of risk 12. See Recommendation CM/Rec (2014) 3 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to member States concerning dangerous offenders. Situation of life-sentenced prisoners ► Page 39