National organization recommends Putnamville for reaccreditation

Friday, October 4, 2019

The Putnamville Correctional Facility and Warden Brian Smith recently announced that after a period of inspection and evaluation, a visiting committee from the American Correctional Association (ACA) has recommended the facility for reaccreditation to the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections.

On Sept. 10, a specially-selected committee of correctional professionals from across the country arrived to conduct the reaccreditation 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 was compliant with 100 percent of mandatory standards and 98.6 percent of non-mandatory standards. The next step is for Smith to appear before the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections at the ACA Winter Conference in January 2020 for the final vote on reaccreditation.

“This reaccreditation 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.”

Smith attributed the successful audit to the strength and dedication of the staff of Putnamville and emphasized the teamwork necessary to achieve reaccreditation.

The Indiana Department of Correction is one of 22 operations to have achieved and maintained the ACA’s Golden Eagle status. This award is only presented to departments of correction which have achieved ACA accreditation at 100 percent of their facilities, including central office and parole.

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