The Director of Corrections shall cause each person who is newly committed to a state prison to be examined and studied. This includes the investigation of all pertinent circumstances of the person’s life such as the existence of any strong community and family ties, the maintenance of which may aid in the person’s rehabilitation, and the antecedents of the violation of law because of which he or she has been committed to prison. Any person may be reexamined to determine whether existing orders and dispositions should be modified or continued in force.

Upon the basis of the examination and study, the Director of Corrections shall classify prisoners; and when reasonable, the director shall assign a prisoner to the institution of the appropriate security level and gender population nearest the prisoner’s home, unless other classification factors make such a placement unreasonable.

As used in this section, “reasonable” includes consideration of the safety of the prisoner and the institution, the length of term, and the availability of institutional programs and housing.

As used in this section, “prisoner’s home” means a place where the prisoner’s spouse, parents, or children reside at the time of commitment.

When the diagnostic study of any inmate committed under subdivision (b) of Section 1168 so indicates, the director shall cause a psychiatric or psychological report to be prepared for the Community Release Board prior to the release of the inmate. The report shall be prepared by a psychiatrist or psychologist licensed to practice in this state.

Before the release of any inmate committed under subdivision (b) of Section 1168, the director shall provide the Community Release Board with a written evaluation of the prisoner.

(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 1061, Sec. 2.)