Some regions were required to convert from a decentralized admission process to the centralized approach used with this process, which involved recruiting additional staff, converting facilities and staff responsibilities and establishing new procedures and lines of communication. Where centralized processes already existed, staff needed to shift to a different approach involving a greater degree of structure and the use of a standardized computer program to record the results of their assessments. A research project has been launched to examine closely issues involved in the collection and use of information during the Offender Intake Assessment process. This study will pinpoint areas of difficulty and identify examples of best practices, to improve the information retrieval process in all regions. Improved OMS screens and reports for Offender Intake Assessment, which integrate penitentiary placement requirements and incorporate user suggestions, have been designed and will soon be implemented.
Some important changes are under way for post-intake risk assessment and management practices.
The result will be a single comprehensive case management document that will ensure consistency in assessments and reduce data-entry time for case managers.