American Correctional Association auditors have recommended accreditation be awarded to Piedmont Correctional Institution.
Piedmont Correctional is the 41st 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 Piedmont Correctional met 100% of mandatory practices and 98.4% of non-mandatory practices during their intensive inspections, conducted Dec. 4-6. The ACA Commission on Accreditation for Corrections will vote to formally grant accreditation at a future meeting.
“I’m very proud of the dedicated staff of Piedmont Correctional Institution, who come to work every day and every shift prepared to do their jobs the right way,” said Warden Ben Anderson. “I also want to thank our department and Western Region leadership, as well as the accreditation and compliance specialists for all the support and guidance they’ve provided throughout this process.”
The Salisbury facility houses approximately 750 male offenders in minimum and medium custody. The facility offers a range of rehabilitative educational and vocational programs, from high school equivalency to auto body repair.
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, 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 its commitment to operating a high-level state correctional system.
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