The requirements of the accreditation process are the same for all types of agencies - state, county, federal and private. All programs and facilities sign a contract, pay an accreditation fee, conduct a self-evaluation and have a standards compliance audit by trained ACA consultants prior to an accreditation decision by the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections.
APPLICANT STATUS
In order to enter into Applicant Status, agency staff should contact ACA to obtain the necessary materials to implement the process. Certain narrative information regarding the agency is necessary to confirm eligibility and determine the applicable manual of standards and appropriate fees. An accreditation contract is then executed and sent to the agency. The signed contract must be returned to the Association to initiate the process.
PRE-AUDIT ASSESSMENT
Some agencies have serious concerns and questions regarding preparation for the accreditation audit and often request that an ACA auditor conduct a pre-audit assessment to assist them in determining their levels of compliance prior to scheduling the actual audit. This option is highly recommended for facilities and agencies that are new to the accreditation process, and for facilities that feel a need for special technical assistance prior to the audit.
CORRESPONDENT STATUS
Once the contract is executed, the agency enters into Correspondent Status. During this time, the agency conducts a self-assessment of its operations and completes a Self-Evaluation Report that specifies the agency's level of standards compliance. Agencies must submit the Self-Evaluation Report to ACA for review. In order to request an audit, an agency must comply with 100 percent of the standards designated as mandatory and at least 90 percent of the nonmandatory standards.
CANDIDATE STATUS
The agency enters into Candidate Status with ACA's acceptance of the Self-Evaluation Report. During this period, the agency works toward meeting the required levels of compliance. Once these requirements are met, the agency schedules the standards compliance audit by contacting an ACA regional manager. Candidate Status lasts up to 12 months and continues until the agency is awarded accreditation.
STANDARDS COMPLIANCE AUDIT
The next step in the accreditation process is the standards compliance audit. The purpose of the audit is to measure the agency's operation against the standards, based on written documentation, observations and interviews. A visiting committee composed of two or more auditors conducts the audit. The ACA designates a visiting committee chairperson who is responsible for supervising the committee's activities and preparing the visiting committee report to be submitted to the Association.
ACCREDITATION HEARING
Accreditation hearings are conducted by a panel of three to five commissioners and are held at least twice a year. At the hearing, the agency representative provides information about the agency, speaks in support of its appeals, and/or waiver requests, and addresses concerns the commission panel may have. After completing its review, the panel votes to award or deny accreditation. Accreditation is awarded for a period of three years during which time annual certification statements, confirming continued standards compliance, are submitted to ACA. To ensure continued Accredited Status, accredited agencies apply for reaccreditation approximately nine months prior to the expiration of their current acccreditation award.
