University of Phoenix
CJS/230
According to the American Correctional Association website, accreditation can be define as “a system of verification that correctional agencies/facilities comply with national standards promulgated by the American Correctional Association” (“Standards & Accreditation”, n.d.). In order to achieve accreditation, it must go through reviews, appraisals, analysis, and hearings first. For a correctional agency to be accepted for accreditation, they at least must have one of the following: “pretrial or presented adult or juveniles; convicted adults or juveniles adjudicated delinquent; and/or adult or juvenile offenders sentenced to community supervision” (“Standards & Accreditation”, n.d.). There are many advantages and benefits of accreditation. The benefits have shown assessments of facilities’ strength and weaknesses, shown goals obtained, implantation of policies and procedures, established specific guidelines for everyday procedure, “aid in the defense of frivolous lawsuits, and increase of community support and a higher level of staff professionalism and morale” (“Standards & Accreditation”, n.d.). At ACA, they believe accreditation can enhance staff and development training. While though accreditation, there will be transcribe policies and agendas to help designate a training and staff development. The program will be for all levels of personnel. Employees’ experiences will automatically grow throughout all the training related to their job-related positions. They will receive current job-related training in relation to position requirements, new theories, current correctional issues, techniques and technologies. With the professional trainings, correctional officers will work toward compliance with standards which represent a professional practice. After all their hard work through the training, they will take pride in their professionalism.
References: Hamden, M. (2006-2013). Correctional excellence: Accreditation and the American Correctional Association. Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/article/correctional-excellence-accreditation-and-the-american-correctional-association Joel, D. (2013). A Guide to Prison Privatization. Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/1988/05/bg650-a-guide-to-prison-privatization Smith, A. (1996-2013). Private vs. Public Facilities, Is it cost effective and safe?. Retrieved from http://www.corrections.com/news/article/30903-private-vs-public-facilities-is-it-cost-effective-and-safe- Standards & Accreditation. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.aca.org/standards/faq.asp#overview_whatis