Can my classification be appealed or changed?
Parole officers, who may not have very much experience with psychological or mental health issues, conduct a large portion of the intake assessment, which contributes to a prisoner’s classification. Clinicians perform some parts of the assessment, but even with more experience, they are not infallible.

However, the CSC can change your classification. They may review your classification if they receive information that could significantly affect the Correctional Plan potentially resulting in a change in risk.⁸⁰ Classification is periodically reviewed. The Security Reclassification Scale for Women (SRSW) is administered once a year for most prisoners and twice a year for women with maximum-security classifications.

Increasing your classification (as opposed to that of a man) requires special procedures.⁸¹ The reasons for the differences stem from complaints that have been made to CSC about the lack of reliability and validity of the classification procedures for women.

If you feel that your classification is inappropriate, you may use the prisoners’ grievance process.⁸² If the grievance procedures are exhausted without a satisfactory resolution, you may pursue judicial review. (See section on remedies.)