THE BASIS OF THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IS THE INTENT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS AND ENVIRONMENTS FOR OFFENDERS DESIGNED TO EFFECT CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR AND TO FOSTER THE ADOPTION OF A POSITIVE ROLE IN SOCIETY UPON THEIR RELEASE. THE PRIMARY PRINCIPLES OF CLASSIFICATION ARE STATED AS FOLLOWS: OFFENDERS ARE INDIVIDUALS AND SHOULD BE HANDLED AS INDIVIDUALS; REHABILITATION OF THE OFFENDER SHOULD BE SO PLANNED THAT HE WILL GET ALONG WELL IN SOCIETY WHEN AND IF RELEASED; AND ALL THE AVAILABLE FACILITIES SHOULD BE UTILIZED IN THE CORRECTION OF DEFECTS, CAPITALIZATION OF ASSETS, AND RETRAINING OF THOSE WHO ARE TO BE RELEASED. THE ESSENCE OF THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IS TO BRING TOGETHER A TEAM OF SPECIALISTS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, PSYCHOLOGY, EDUCATION, DISCIPLINE, SPECIALIZED TRAINING FIELDS, GUIDANCE, AND SOCIOLOGY TO ASSESS THE PERSONALITY AND NEEDS OF EACH OFFENDER SUCH THAT PROGRAMS MAY BE USED OR DEVISED TO MEET THOSE NEEDS AND EQUIP THE OFFENDER TO FUNCTION IN A POSITIVE, SELF-FULFILLING MANNER IN SOCIETY AFTER RELEASE. IN A WELL-DEVELOPED SYSTEM, THE PROGRESS OF THE OFFENDER IS MONITORED THROUGHOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROGRAM. IT IS NOTED THAT CLASSIFICATION IS USED NOT ONLY WITHIN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS BUT ALSO IN THE SENTENCING COURT. IN NEW JERSEY, THE STATUTE PERMITS THE SENTENCING JUDGE TO REMAND A CONVICTED OFFENDER TO THE PROPER INSTITUTION FOR CLASSIFICATION STUDY PRIOR TO IMPOSING SENTENCE. A DIAGRAM OF NEW JERSEY'S INTEGRATED CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IS ALSO PRESENTED. ALSO SEE NCJ 32007 (RCB)