American Correctional Association auditors have recommended accreditation be awarded to Warren Correctional Institution.
Warren Correctional is the 49th 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 Warren Correctional met 100% of mandatory practices and 98.7% of non-mandatory practices during their intensive inspections, conducted March 17-19. The ACA Commission on Accreditation for Corrections will vote to formally grant accreditation at a future meeting.
“The staff of Warren Correctional Institution is dedicated every day, but they worked especially hard for us to meet this goal. I am extremely proud of them,” said Warden Kevin Barnes. “I also want to thank our department and Central Region leadership, as well as DAC’s accreditation and compliance specialists, for all the support and guidance they’ve provided throughout this process.”
Located in Manson, Warren County, the facility houses approximately 670 men in minimum and medium custody levels. Opportunities for rehabilitative educational and vocational programs range from high school equivalency to the Correction Enterprises Janitorial Products Plant. Warren Correctional is also a site that hosts an ABEL (At Both Ends of the Leash) dog-training program.
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.