Last Updated on June 17, 2024 11:30 am
RALEIGH – American Correctional Association auditors have recommended accreditation be awarded to Mountain View and Avery-Mitchell correctional institutions in Spruce Pine, another step toward full accreditation of the North Carolina prison system.
The two correctional facilities are the 32nd and 33rd N.C. Department of Adult Correction locations or operations recommended for accreditation.
ACA auditors found Mountain View CI scored 100% on the audit for mandatory standards and 99.3% on non-mandatory standards during their intensive inspections, conducted June 10-12. Avery-Mitchell CI scored 100% on the audit for mandatory standards and 99.1% on non-mandatory standards during their intensive inspections, conducted June 12-14. The ACA Commission on Accreditation for Corrections will vote to formally grant accreditation at a future meeting.
Mountain View CI Warden Mike Slagle said, “I am thankful for the support of our Western Region leadership alongside NCDAC division leadership throughout this entire process. We appreciate this recognition from ACA proving the quality work accomplished by our staff on a daily basis. This would not be possible without the level of commitment and dedication proven by our staff. They work tirelessly each and every day, and I am proud of our staff as we celebrate this recognition together.”
Added Avery-Mitchell CI Warden Bret Bullis: “This has been a long but rewarding process. This was a team effort, and I believe the effort and pride taken by our staff in their work areas through this accreditation process has made our facility a safer, cleaner, and more efficient environment.”
Mountain View CI houses approximately 900 medium-custody male offenders. Avery-Mitchell CI houses approximately 800 medium-custody male offenders.
The audit’s 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.
• Improve the function of the facility.
As part of the accreditation process, the ACA auditors spent three days conducting visual inspections, reviewing policies and procedures, and probing the work being done to ensure best practices are met at the prison.
The Department is pursuing accreditation for all its operations, as envisioned in the NCDAC Strategic Plan.
