1. PRISON MANAGEMENT – The depth of assessment should be determined by the level of risk and be proportionate to the gravity of the potential outcome. – Risk assessments should involve a detailed analysis of previous behaviours and the historical, personal and situational factors that led to and contributed to it. They should be based on the best reliable information. – Such risk-assessment instruments should be used to develop the most constructive and least restrictive interpretation of a measure or sanction, as well as to an individualized implementation of a sentence. They are not designed to determine the sentence although their findings may be used constructively to indicate the need for interventions. 1 – Risk assessments should be conducted in an evidence-based, structured manner, incorporating appropriate validated tools and professional decision-making. Those persons undertaking risk assessments should be aware of and state clearly the limitations of assessing violence risk and of predicting future behaviour, particularly in the long term. – Assessments undertaken during the implementation of a sentence should be seen as progressive, and be periodically reviewed to allow for a dynamic re-assessment of the offender’s risk: a. Risk assessments should be repeated on a regular basis by appropriately trained staff to meet the requirements of sentence planning or when otherwise necessary, allowing for a revision of the circumstances that change during the execution of the sentence. b. Assessment practices should be responsive to the fact that the risk posed by an individual’s offending changes over time: such change may be gradual or sudden. – Assessments should be coupled with opportunities for offenders to address their special risk related needs and change their attitudes and behaviour. – Offenders should be involved in assessment, and have information about the process and access to the conclusions of the assessment. – A clear distinction should be made between the offender’s risks to the outside community and inside prison. These two risks should be evaluated separately. 1.3. ALLOCATION RELEVANT RULES: ALLOCATION Rule 59: Prisoners shall be allocated, to the extent possible, to prisons close to their homes or their places of social rehabilitation. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Rehabilitation and reintegration 88 Prisoners who are located close to their families and friends have a better chance of establishing and maintaining regular contact with them. This is something that aids their rehabilitation and reintegration prospects. If a prisoner is located close to her or his family, longer family visits and possibly even home visits will also be much easier to arrange. Location and accessibility, including transport options, should therefore be significant factors in the planning of new detention facilities. Planners should also consider the availability of nearby accommodation for visitors who have to travel long distances to visit incarcerated family members. Guidance document on the Nelson Mandela Rules 25