American Correctional Association auditors have recommended accreditation be awarded to Foothills Correctional Institution.
Foothills Correctional is the 40th N.C. Department of Adult Correction facility that has either been recommended or awarded ACA accreditation. The N.C. Department of Adult Correction is pursuing the distinction for all its facilities and operations.
ACA auditors found Foothills Correctional met 100% of mandatory practices and 97.5% of non-mandatory practices during their intensive inspections, conducted Dec. 2-4. The ACA Commission on Accreditation for Corrections will vote to formally grant accreditation at a future meeting.
“This was possible because of tireless dedication and teamwork,” said Warden Harold Reep. “I’m very proud of Foothills staff, who come to work committed to doing a great job every shift. I also want to thank our department and region leadership, as well as the accreditation and compliance specialists for their support and guidance throughout this process.”
The Morganton facility houses approximately 850 male minimum- and close-custody offenders. The facility offers a range of rehabilitative educational and vocational programs, from high school equivalency to commercial driver’s license training to cable and broadband technology.
ACA audits of performance-based standards evaluate fundamental correctional practices that
- ensure staff and offender safety and security
- enhance staff morale
- improve record maintenance and data management capabilities
- and improve the function of the facility.
As part of the accreditation process, the ACA auditors spent three days conducting visual inspections, reviewing policies and procedures, and evaluating the work being done to ensure best practices are met at the prison.
The NCDAC Strategic Plan calls for ACA accreditation of all facilities and operations as part of a commitment to operating a high-level state correctional system.
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