On Tuesday, September 10, 2019 a specially selected committee of correctional professionals from across the country arrived to conduct the re-accreditation audit. The committee reviewed facility files, toured the facility, and studied all aspects of the facility’s operations. They also spoke with both staff and offenders about day-to-day operations.
The visiting committee reports Putnamville Correctional Facility was compliant with 100% of mandatory standards and 98.6% of non-mandatory standards. The next step for Warden Brian Smith is to appear before the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections at the ACA Winter Conference in January 2020 for the final vote on re-accreditation.
“This re-accreditation by the standard-setting American Correctional Association demonstrates the professionalism of our staff at Putnamville Correctional Facility,” said Rob Carter, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Correction. “I am extremely pleased with this outstanding result.”
Warden Brian Smith attributed the successful audit to the strength and dedication of the staff of Putnamville Correctional Facility and emphasized the teamwork necessary to achieve re-accreditation.
The Indiana Department of Correction is proud to be one of only 22 states to have achieved and maintained the ACA’s Golden Eagle status. This award is only presented to Departments of Correction who have achieved ACA accreditation at 100 percent of their facilities, including Central Office and Parole.
Background
For more than 147 years, the American Correctional Association has championed the cause of corrections and correctional effectiveness. Founded in 1870 as the National Prison Association, ACA is the oldest association developed specifically for practitioners in the correctional profession. During the first organizational meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, the assembly elected then-Ohio Governor and future President Rutherford B. Hayes as the first President of the Association. The mission of the Association is to shape the future of corrections through strong, progressive leadership that brings together various voices and forges coalitions and partnerships to promote the concepts embodied in its principles.
Pictured (L to R): ACA Auditors and Warden Brian Smith (far right).
**Pictured: Putnamville Correctional Facility leadership with ACA auditing committee.