Pour déterminer la cote de sécurité d'un détenu, on tient compte de trois facteurs essentiels, soit l'adaptation au milieu carcéral, le risque d'évasion et le risque pour la sécurité du public.
On the basis of the entire assessment, including the custody rating scale, a placement decision is made by assessment staff, and the inmate is sent to a receiving institution classified at his/her level of security. Three critical factors are taken into consideration in determining the security level of the inmate; namely, institutional adjustment, escape risk, and risk to public safety.