ACA Auditors Recommend Re-Accreditation for Madison, Yazoo Community Work Centers

JACKSON, Miss. (Press Release) — For the fifth time since 2002, Madison County Community Work Center and Yazoo County Community Work Center (CWC) are being recommended for accreditation by the American Correctional Association (ACA).

Thursday, Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) Commissioner Christopher Epps applauded the staff of the CWCs for their commitment to again meet nationally recognized correctional standards. Following a four-day audit by ACA auditors, the Madison County CWC in Canton and the Yazoo County CWC in Yazoo City each received recommended scores of 100 percent on the mandatory standards and non-mandatory standards.

“The primary advantage of being an accredited facility is the adoption of standards that result in clearly defined policies and procedures, ultimately enhancing consistency in operations,” said Commissioner Epps. “Accreditation provides an agency with credibility among its peers, lawmakers, the courts and the public.”

Epps continued, “For MDOC, the priority is to make sure this agency meets expectations of taxpayers as well as our peers throughout the country. Our staff continues to put Mississippi in the national spotlight regarding accountability and administration of correctional facilities.” Epps continued, “Deputy Commissioner of Community Corrections Jerry Williams, Region II Community Corrections Director Christy Gutherz, ACA Accreditation Manager Bobby Welch and Branch Director Sonny Edwards along with other MDOC staff work as a team daily and during the ACA accreditation process. And Madison CWC Commander Valerie Buie and Yazoo CWC Commander Otis Bailey are exceptional leaders at these facilities.”

To be awarded accreditation, the community work centers must comply with 100 percent of the 33 mandatory ACA standards and at least 90 percent of the 220 non-mandatory ACA standards. Deputy Commissioner Williams said, “The ACA criteria are very comprehensive and this continued accreditation is a huge accomplishment.”

Individual accreditation awards last for three years; however, the process is designed to be continuous. Accreditation is a system to verify that correctional programs comply with national standards developed by the ACA. The ACA Standards Committee continually revises the standards based on changing practices, current case law and correctional agency experiences. Approved standards reflect the view of correctional practitioners, architects, medical and legal experts. The advantages of accreditation are numerous and include: assessment of a facility’s strengths and weaknesses; identification of obtainable goals; implementation of prevailing policies and procedures; establishment of specific guidelines for daily operations; aid in the defense of frivolous lawsuits; increase in community support; and higher level of staff professionalism and morale.