Secondary assessments should be administered to those people in prison (and, to the extent possible, to those in jail) who were identified during screening to have substance abuse problems, mental illness, and/or other special health needs. While these categories may encompass a large percentage of the correctional population, it is important to screen out those inmates who do not need further assessment in each of these areas. This streamlines the intake process and improves efficiency and cost.

Example: Intake Center, Oregon Department of Corrections

Oregon uses a track system for screening and assessment. If an individual is identified as having substance abuse issues during screening, he or she is moved onto the substance abuse track for further assessment and programming decisions. The individual then rejoins the intake track after the assessment is complete.

The assessment process should be as thorough as feasible in all of these health-related areas. These assessments may employ instruments that jointly address areas of mental and physical health and substance abuse, as long as all areas are adequately explored and the administrator of the assessment is familiar with the full range of topics covered by the instrument that he or she uses. Proper administration of the assessment instrument in these areas may include an interview process, a mental or physical health exam, and the accumulation of information from external sources, such as medical records from a community-based provider or other criminal justice agency. In addition, administrators should plan to review the screening results, make behavior observations, and inquire into the history of the inmate.