American Correctional Association auditors have recommended accreditation be awarded to Maury Correctional Institution.
Maury Correctional is the 56th NC Department of Adult Correction facility or operation that has either been recommended or awarded ACA accreditation. NCDAC is pursuing the distinction for all its facilities and operations.
ACA auditors found Maury Correctional met 100% of mandatory practices and 98.3% of non-mandatory practices during their intensive inspections, conducted April 13-15. The ACA Commission on Accreditation for Corrections will vote to formally grant accreditation at a future meeting.
"I am proud of our staff for their hard work and their exceptional results," said Warden Stephen Waddell. "I also want to thank the leadership of NCDAC and the Eastern Region, as well as our departmental accreditation and compliance specialists, for all the support and guidance they've provided throughout this process."
Maury Correctional Institution houses approximately 1,400 men in close and medium custody levels, including specialized housing units for people with mental health issues and chronic illnesses. Rehabilitative educational and vocational opportunities available at Maury range from high school equivalency to commercial driver's license training.
ACA audits of performance-based standards evaluate fundamental correctional practices that:
- ensure the safety and security of staff and offenders
- enhance staff morale
- improve records maintenance and data management capabilities
- and improve the functioning of the facility.
As part of the accreditation process, ACA auditors spend three days conducting visual inspections, reviewing policies and procedures, and evaluating operations to ensure best practices are met at the prison.
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