Last Updated on August 21, 2024 12:34 pm
NASHVILLE, TENN. — Another 10 N.C. Department of Adult Correction operations have been awarded full accreditation by the American Correctional Association.
During the ACA’s Summer Conference on Thursday and Friday, an accreditation panel of ACA commissioners voted to award full accreditation to:
- Albemarle Correctional Institution, New London
- Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution, Spruce Pine
- Davidson Correctional Center, Lexington
- Franklin Correctional Center, Bunn
- Gaston Correctional Center, Dallas
- Greene Correctional Institution, Maury
- Mountain View Correctional Institution, Spruce Pine
- Southern Correctional Institution, Troy.
Additionally, the NCDAC Office of Staff Development and Training and the North Carolina Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission received accreditation from the ACA. Correction Enterprises and Sanford Correctional Center were reaccredited.
“ACA accreditation is recognition by correctional experts that these facilities meet or exceed national standards,” said Secretary of Adult Correction Todd Ishee. “Earning it is a tribute to the hard work and professionalism not only by the staff of each operation, but also by our Professional Standards team, which provides support to the field. ACA accreditation is truly a team effort.”
The newly accredited 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 32 — including 27 of 54 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 a 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.
