McNeil Island Corrections Center passes Audit

 

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                    January 30, 2009

The McNeil Island Corrections Center (MICC) in Steilacoom scored 100 percent on mandatory standards and 99.3 percent on non-mandatory standards in an American Correctional Association (ACA) accreditation audit that took place Jan. 26-28.

Located in Alexandria, Va., ACA is the only national organization that accredits correctional facilities. ACA standards are considered the benchmark for the effective operation of professional correctional systems.

Prisons Director Dick Morgan said the high scores affirmed the ability of MICC employees to balance the delivery of comprehensive services to offenders with maintaining prison security.

“ACA audits look at every aspect of a prison’s operations,” said Morgan. “The employees at MICC work hard every day to ensure this facility is well run and safe for the public, our staff and offenders.”

The accreditation process includes a tour by certified ACA auditors who look at the quality and adequacy of the facility’s programs, activities and services as well the responses to any violent incidents that have occurred. In addition, employees and offenders are interviewed to obtain varied perspectives of the facility’s operations and quality of life.

A vote by an ACA panel on full accreditation for the prison is expected in the spring.

Ten of DOC’s 15 prisons have received ACA accreditation to date.

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Contact:  Paula Byrne, McNeil Island Corrections Center (253) 512-6601

                Joseph Mitchell, Communications Department (360) 725-8696

 

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