American Correctional Association auditors have recommended accreditation be awarded to Scotland Correctional Institution.
Scotland Correctional is the 44th N.C. Department of Adult Correction facility that has either been recommended or awarded ACA accreditation. NCDAC is pursuing the distinction for all its facilities and operations.
ACA auditors found Scotland Correctional met 100% of mandatory practices and 98.6% of non-mandatory practices during their intensive inspections, conducted Jan. 27-29. The ACA Commission on Accreditation for Corrections will vote to formally grant accreditation at a future meeting.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for Scotland Correctional Institution,” said Warden Tim Parsons. “The dedicated staff here worked long and hard to make this happen, and I’m very proud of them. I also have to thank our department and South Central Region leadership, as well as DAC’s accreditation and compliance specialists, for all the support and guidance they’ve provided throughout this process.”
The Laurinburg facility is one of the state’s largest, housing approximately 1,700 male offenders in close, medium and minimum security levels. Rehabilitative educational and vocational programs range from high school equivalency to residential and commercial wiring. Correction Enterprises offers employment for offenders in the facility’s sewing plant, making offender clothing and staff uniforms, and in the Braille transcription shop.
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.
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