Chapter 1 – General Administration

The Department utilizes the American Correctional Association (ACAAmerican Correctional Association) standards as resource material in developing departmental regulations, policy, and operational procedures. The Department may pursue accreditation by the ACAAmerican Correctional Association at selected facilities as determined by the Secretary.

This Article provides departmental employees with an understanding of the relationship between the Department and the ACAAmerican Correctional Association, and basic structural elements of the accreditation process.

The ACAAmerican Correctional Association is a nonprofit, professional organization, focused exclusively on the field of detention and corrections, whose activities include the administration of a national accreditation program as a method of certifying levels of overall compliance with specific and predetermined correctional standards.

The Department utilizes the following ACAAmerican Correctional Association manuals:

• Manual of Standards for Adult Correctional Institutions.

• Manual of Standards for Adult Community Residential Facilities.

• Manual of Standards for Adult Probation and Parole Field Service.

The Secretary affirms that the Department shall pursue accreditation of its facilities as they are found to be ready for accreditation audits.

The Secretary shall decide which of the facilities are to be targeted for accreditation audits by the ACAAmerican Correctional Association for any given time period, and have those decisions incorporated into the Department’s facilities plan.

Office of Audits and Compliance

• The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Audits and Compliance shall oversee all ACAAmerican Correctional Association accreditation activities within the Department including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Communicating with the ACAAmerican Correctional Association.

  • Recommending accreditationready facilities to the Secretary.

  • Coordinating and completing contracts and applications for accreditation with the facilities selected for accreditation audits.

  • Providing technical guidance for accreditation activities at every facility.

  • Performing preaccreditation audits at facilities.

  • Coordinating the resolution of accreditation related issues/problems.

Division of Adult Institutions/Division of Adult Parole Operations

• All Wardens and RPAs shall have systems in place to ensure that ACAAmerican Correctional Association standards have been reviewed and, where appropriate, incorporated into local operations.

• All Wardens and RPAs whose facilities have been selected for accreditation shall assign a staff member at the level of Lieutenant, Correctional Counselor II (CCCorrectional Counselor-II), Parole Agent II (PAProgram Administrator-II), or above, to monitor and coordinate ACAAmerican Correctional Association accreditation activities at their respective facilities.

• Facilities selected for accreditation efforts, and those that have been awarded accreditation, shall assign an accreditation manager/coordinator to:

  • Coordinate the overall effort.

  • Communicate local needs and concerns to Warden/RPARegional Parole Administrator.

  • Develop and maintain accreditation records and documents.

  • Provide training to facility staff.

  • Liaison with the Office of Audits and Compliance in all aspects of the accreditation and reaccreditation process.

  • Review facility operations for consistency with ACAAmerican Correctional Association standards.

The Deputy Director, Office of Audits and Compliance, or designee shall be responsible for ensuring that the contents of this Article are kept current and accurate.

ACAAmerican Correctional Association Agency Manual of Accreditation Policy and Procedure.