ACA Accreditation
ACA Accreditation
This section oversees the agency accreditation process by ensuring compliance with all rules and regulations of the accrediting authority through periodic reviews of protocols and process indicators.
The American Correctional Association (ACA) is a professional organization whose mission is to improve the justice system.
ACA believes that the principles of HUMANITY, JUSTICE, PROTECTION, OPPORTUNITY, KNOWLEDGE, COMPETENCE and ACCOUNTABILITY are essential to the foundation of sound corrections policy and effective public protection.
The advantages and benefits of accreditation are numerous and include:
- The assessment of strengths and weaknesses;
- The identification of obtainable goals;
- The implementation of state of the art policies and procedures;
- The establishment of specific guidelines for daily operations;
- An aid in the defense of frivolous lawsuits;
- An increase in community support; and
- A higher level of staff professionalism and morale.
The accreditation process offers the opportunity to evaluate operations against national standards, helps to identify and remedy deficiencies, and upgrade the quality of services and programs being provided to the youth committed to our care or supervision.
ACA supports implementation of a wide range of community programs. The ACA believes that life, health and safety standards should assure protection of the rights of youth as well as society at large.
OJJ currently utilizes ACA standards as the tool to measure quality of services in facilities, regional offices and Central Office. ACA standards guide administrators in development of plans to upgrade juvenile programs and procedures in accordance with nationally recognized benchmarks. The practice necessary to meet high standards of performance and to achieve accreditation is now well established by OJJ.
The Community Based Services (Probation & Parole) section has been accredited with the ACA Standards for Juvenile Probation and Aftercare Services since 1994. Central Office was accredited under the Standards for the Administration of Correctional Agencies in 2009. Swanson Center for Youth (SCY) and Jetson Center for Youth (JCY) were accredited in January 2012. (BCCY) is in Correspondent Status seeking accreditation under the Performance-Based Standards for Juvenile Correctional Facilities.
OJJ also requires contracted residential facilities to maintain accreditation with the ACA or similar accreditation.
For additional information contact: Angela.Arabie@LA.GOV