New Age, New Challenge: A Critical Analysis of Correctional Accreditation in the United States, 1986

• NCJ Number: 111134
• Author(s): P H Hahn
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: American Correctional Association
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: The Walter H. Dunbar Memorial Address, American Correctional Association 116th Congress of Correction, August 14, 1986, Las Vegas, Nevada

Annotation

The knowledge explosion, technological change, and lifestyle change have contributed to problems in corrections, including overcrowding, that may be ameliorated by the development of standards and an accreditation process.

Abstract

Standards and accreditation hold the greatest promise of professionalization and legitimization in corrections. In 1870, there were already minimum correctional standards, and additional standards were developed in 1946, 1954, and 1966. However, these efforts had little impact because there was no process for evaluating and sanctioning compliance. Following the development of the Commission on Accreditation in 1974, the process of implementation and refinement began and presently continues. While the process still has problems, efforts have been made to deal with these by such revisions as provision of public information on the accreditation process, introduction of new audit forms, and auditor training. Efforts also are being made to improve the process by including quality-of-life measures and obtaining information from inmates and outside sources. Other changes still are needed to resolve remaining problems and ensure the integrity of the entire accreditation process.