NCJ Number
110587
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 50 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1988) Pages: 199-202
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article is a practical guide to correctional facility accreditation based on existing policies and procedures and the experiences of six Kentucky facilities that have been accredited or reaccredited.
Abstract
The decision to pursue accreditation must be the consensus of all management levels based on an understanding of the benefits of accreditation. Following the decision to pursue accreditation, an accreditation manager and an accreditation team should be appointed. The next step is to assess the facility's current status against the standards to determine where there is compliance and noncompliance. Standards should be throughly analyzed to ensure correct interpretations. Assistance in this endeavor can be supplied by the 'Correctional Standards Supplements,' published regularly by the American Corrections Association to present changes in and interpretations of current standards. There are also auditors and accreditation managers throughout the country who may be consulted. Tasks required for complying with each standard must be specified and a schedule set for their completion. A file should be created for each standard, containing all documentation to show standards compliance. The limitations of physical plants and corrections budgets are two major issues in achieving accreditation, but Kentucky's experience indicates that even older facilities can achieve accreditation.