Another six N.C. Department of Adult Correction facilities have been awarded full accreditation by the American Correctional Association, and one was reaccredited.
During the ACA’s Winter Conference on Saturday, an accreditation panel of ACA commissioners voted to award full accreditation to:
- Caswell Correctional Center, Yanceyville
- Center for Community Transitions, Charlotte
- Johnston Correctional Institution, Smithfield
- Neuse Correctional Institution, Goldsboro
- Pamlico Correctional Institution, Bayboro
- Randolph Correctional Center, Asheboro.
Additionally, the panel reaccredited Tyrrell Prison Work Farm in Columbia, which the ACA requires every three years.
“ACA accreditation is recognition by national corrections experts that these facilities meet or exceed established standards,” said Seretary of Adult Correction Leslie Cooley Dismukes. "The hard work and professionalism of the staff at our institutions and on our Professional Standards team was critical to earning this recognition. ACA accreditation is truly a team effort.”
The facilities had been recommended for the distinction after previous onsite inspections by ACA known as “audits.” The panel vote made accreditation official.
The total of fully accredited NCDAC operations is now 38 — including 33 of 55 prison facilities. The department’s strategic plan calls for accreditation of all NCDAC facilities and operations.
During onsite visits, ACA auditors comb through all operations at the facility to make sure that its policies and actual practices:
- ensure safety and security
- enhance staff morale
- maintain accurate records
- and contribute to effective and efficient functionality.
If satisfied, audit teams recommend accreditation to the panel of ACA commissioners, which takes a harder look at the audit results before voting separately for each facility.
Paula Page, DAC director of accreditation and compliance, praised the preparation of her staff and the facility staffs, both for the audits and for the ACA panel vote. “Everyone presented themselves well before the commissioners, who had exceptionally positive things to say about each of our facilities," Page said.
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