VPRS 8818 Male Prisoner Classification Files

These files were created by the Prisoner Classification Committee, based at Pentridge, to record details of each prisoners background. This information was then used by the Classification Committee to determine at which type of institution the prisoner was to be confined and what level of security would be required.Prior to the Early 1950s classification of prisoners in Victoria was based on the sex of the offender, age and type of crime committed. In 1950 the Inspector-General of Penal Establishments spent six months in Europe and the United States studying modern prison techniques. The report, published in October 1951, recommended sweeping changes to the Victorian prison system.Some of the recommendations involved the classification of prisoners. From around 1956 grater emphasis was placed on prisoner training; particularly programs designed to raise the educational levels of prisoners. The target group was prisoners with very low literacy and numeracy skills. Several prisons were equipped with primary level schools and prisoners were sent to whichever prison the Classification Committee thought could benefit them educationally. Proximity of family members was also considered.The files contain a classification sheet detailing the prisoners personal history including information regarding birthplace, education, work history, religion, intelligence level and immediate family.The classification sheet also contains the Classification Committees decision on the prisoner providing such information as security level required (maximum, medium or minimum), employment during sentence, training while in prison and the institution (prison) to which the prisoner is to be sent.The files may also contain information regarding the prisoners prior convictions, progress reports on behaviour during incarceration and special reports (such as reports which describe prisoners reaction to transfers between divisions of a prison or to other prisons). Files may contain reports written by the Classification Officer and review of the prisoners classification. Sometimes a record of the prisoners training while in prison is included.Some files may also contain photographs of the prisoner and/or newspaper reports concerning the prisoners crime.In the 1960s the classification system was again altered. A file for each prisoner was created by central administration and the initial prison to which the prisoner was sent crated another file. The prison file followed the prisoner from prison to prison. It is apparent from viewing these records that the central file contains more information than the prison file. In 1985, due to computerisation, the system was again changed and although two files continued to be created, one centrally and the other by the prison, all the important documentation was kept on the prison file and the central file contained mostly duplicates. This series is still subject to further research.A small portion of the files related to individuals who were held in prison pending deportation. These files are denoted on the cover with the words Deportee.Contents Date RangeThe date range of the records in this series is from approximately 1940 to 1985. However, some files may contain papers from an earlier period. If a former prisoner re-offended, their previous file was reactivated (prisoner numbers were also reused if the prisoner was a re-offender) and papers from the later period of detention were added to the existing file.