Educating individuals entering the correctional facility about the intake process gives them a stake in the results. When corrections officials administer screening and assessment tools without clearly explaining their intent, inmates may withhold information or give misleading answers out of mistrust or a desire for privacy. People in prison or jail may offer increased cooperation when the community-based providers that can assist them upon their release also conduct assessment interviews during intake.

Preserving the confidentiality of inmate information also facilitates the building of trust between inmates, staff, and service providers. Individuals in prison or jail may have legitimate fears of negative consequences should their personal information be disclosed. For example, individuals may not wish to disclose a history of homelessness, or a mental health condition or HIV diagnosis, for fear of discrimination or stigmatization by other inmates and correctional staff. The rights and needs of each party involved should be carefully explained, and the needs of the different agencies involved should be balanced against each other and against the needs of the inmate, particularly when these issues might place service providers and corrections staff on opposite sides of the information divide. In most cases, intake staff should be able to ensure a high degree of accuracy by communicating their respect for confidentiality, especially when this step is combined with the involvement of the individual and community-based providers in the intake process.