What to Know About Classification Reviews at William Donaldson: Frequency, Purpose, and How to Contact the Specialist
If your loved one is at William Donaldson, classification is one of the key processes shaping daily life inside — everything from custody level to work assignments and program access. Here's how often reviews happen, what they cover, and how to reach the Classification Specialist.
At William Donaldson, incarcerated people get a classification review at least once a year. On top of that, the file is checked every six months to see if the person qualifies for changes in custody or placement. Special reviews can also happen after a status change - like completing drug treatment or having a detainer removed.
Note: The yearly review is the minimum. Six-month file checks and special reviews can move things along faster when someone's status changes.
Classification isn't just about housing. It also connects to work assignments. A Job Placement Board assigns each person's institutional job, so any job changes may be tied to where they stand in the classification process.
It also helps to know the baseline rules come from the Alabama Department of Corrections inmate handbook. Those rules apply to all inmates no matter which ADOC institution they’re assigned to, including William Donaldson.
Classification is the system ADOC uses to set custody levels, placement decisions, and program plans. That can mean being placed into education, vocational training, or substance abuse treatment - and it affects which institutional job someone gets through the Job Placement Board. Each facility may have additional policies, but the statewide handbook rules still apply everywhere. So even when someone transfers, classification decisions follow the same ADOC framework.
- Send a request slip - Your loved one can contact their Classification Specialist by submitting a request slip.
- Sign up for Open House meetings - They can also reach the Classification Specialist by signing up for the specialist’s Open House meetings.
Tip: If you’re trying to understand what’s happening with a review, the most direct route is usually your loved one asking their Classification Specialist - either by request slip or through Open House.
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