Eight N.C. Department of Adult Correction facilities, along with the department’s Central Office and the entire Division of Community Supervision, have been awarded full accreditation by the American Correctional Association.
During the ACA’s Winter Conference on Friday, an accreditation panel of ACA Commissioners voted to award full accreditation to:
- NCDAC Central Office, Raleigh (re-accreditation)
- Division of Community Supervision, statewide
- Caldwell Correctional Center, Lenoir
- Craven Correctional Institution, Vanceboro
- Dan River Prison Work Farm, Blanch
- Hyde Correctional Institution, Swan Quarter
- Lumberton Correctional Institution, Lumberton
- Nash Correctional Institution, Nashville
- Rutherford Correctional Center, Spindale
- Sampson Correctional Institution, Clinton.
“Earning ACA accreditation shows that we are meeting or exceeding the national benchmark in the corrections profession,” said Secretary of Adult Correction Todd Ishee. “This is an outstanding achievement by our staff. It’s a recognition of their hard work and their commitment to excellence.”
Twenty-four NCDAC operations, including three Correction Enterprises facilities, have earned accreditation. The department’s strategic plan calls for accreditation of all NCDAC facilities and operations.
Accreditation requires detailed onsite inspections known as audits. 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 by a panel of ACA commissioners, which takes a harder look at the audit results before voting on each facility.
“I am proud of the hard work by the Accreditation and Compliance staff in preparing for these audits,” said DAC Accreditation and Compliance Director Paula Page, whose team assists and guides facilities in preparing for ACA audits and accreditation. “I’m thankful for our facilities and the way they presented themselves before the committee and was impressed by the positive ACA comments about each facility and office.”