The American Correctional Association works to shape public policy on correctional issues in manners consistent with the Association's founding principles, constitution and bylaws, vision statement, and public policies and resolutions.
The Government & Public Affairs Department, in partnership with the Legislative Affairs Committee, develops the Association's position on public policy issues and represents the Association before the United States Congress, federal executive agencies, state and local governments, advocacy and interest groups, the media, and the general public. The department continually works to forge bipartisan contacts with lawmakers and administration officials and takes pride in its close relationship with the law enforcement community and numerous advocacy organizations.
Government & Public Affairs is responsible for monitoring, tracking and analyzing legislative activity for the Association and disseminating information to policy-makers, advocacy groups and the media as well as ACA members. The ACA Federal Alert is designed to inform ACA members about federal legislation and critical developments that will impact the corrections profession.