What Happens During the First Two Weeks: Alabama DOC Reception and Classification
The first days in Alabama DOC can feel like a black box from the outside. Here's what typically happens during reception and classification, and how those early decisions shape custody level, placement, and work assignments.
Reception and classification in Alabama DOC usually wraps up within two weeks of arrival at an admitting institution. During this window, staff collect identifying information, run screenings, and build the initial picture that determines custody level and placement. Even after that two-week mark, expect some shifting - housing, programs, or job assignments can still change as the system finalizes where your loved one fits best.
If your loved one is headed to North Alabama Community Work Center, here's some context: it's a minimum custody facility with a reported population of 672 male inmates. That gives you a sense of the scale staff are managing while processing new arrivals and handling daily operations.
Intake starts immediately after arrival. Inmates are photographed and fingerprinted - basic identification steps that establish identity and create the official record that follows them through the system.
Medical screening happens early. Every arriving inmate receives a complete physical and dental examination from medical and dental professionals. This isn't a quick once-over - these exams document current health needs and help staff plan treatment and follow-up care.
Reception covers mental health too. Psychological testing and interviews help staff understand safety needs, risks, and what support or programming might be appropriate. These screenings can influence both care planning and classification decisions.
Need to reach North Alabama Community Work Center while your loved one is going through intake? The warden is Errol Pickens, Correctional Warden II. The street address is 1401 Highway 20 West, Decatur, AL 35601, and the phone number is (256) 350-0876.
Once initial screenings wrap up, classification takes center stage. Classification Specialists interview arriving inmates and make custody and placement recommendations based on what they learn in interviews and verify through research. Details shared during this stage carry real weight for where someone ends up next.
Classification isn't locked in forever. Inmates receive a formal review at least once a year, and their file gets checked every six months for eligibility changes in custody or placement. Progress, conduct, and updated information can all matter over time - not just during those first couple of weeks.
- ✓ A Job Placement Board assigns an institutional job as the regular work assignment.
- ✓ At North Alabama Community Work Center, inmates participate in work release programs in Morgan, Limestone, and Madison Counties.
Want to know what stage your loved one is in? Start by calling the institution directly. For North Alabama Community Work Center, the phone number is (256) 350-0876 and the address is 1401 Highway 20 West, Decatur, AL 35601. Ask who handles classification questions and whether there's a specific contact for reception and classification updates.
Note: Procedures vary by institution, even within Alabama DOC. Before sending documents or sharing sensitive information, confirm with the facility who to contact and what they'll accept.
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