Jail Receives Top Marks in Accreditation Audit

Issued 10/25/12 by John Schulz, Public Information Officer

The Larimer County Jail concluded its 2012 American Correctional Association (ACA) Accreditation audit this week with the highest marks possible.

As part of the audit, the jail had to prove compliance with 384 standards.  Three auditors, with a combined experience of over 100 years in corrections, spent three days auditing the ACA files and the overall operation of the jail.  The auditors said that the Larimer County Jail not only met 100% of the 61 mandatory standards, but also met 100% of the 323 non-mandatory standards. 

An ACA audit involves assessments that cover administration and management, the physical plant, institutional operations and services, and inmate programs. It also assesses issues and concerns that may affect the quality of life at a facility such as staff training, adequacy of medical services, sanitation, use of segregation and detention, incidents of violence, crowding, offender activity levels, programs, and provisions of basic services that may impact the life, safety and health of inmates, as well as staff. 

The auditors were impressed by the capability and the commitment of all of the staff members they met.  Audit Chairman Pat Keohane, who has over 45 years experience as a corrections professional, stated "If someone asked me what the finest medium-sized jail in the United States would be, I would say it was the Larimer County Jail."

Sheriff Justin Smith said, "Only a small percentage of jails across the nation achieve ACA accreditation.  In the previous 27 years of accreditation, we've never done so well. Achieving 100% in all categories of an accreditation is virtually unheard of. I am extremely proud of the work the entire jail staff does day in and day out. It's a little bittersweet to be recognized for such an achievement, knowing that looming budget cuts threaten that success in the coming years."

Jail administrator Captain Tim Palmer said, "Achieving 100% compliance of all ACA standards is a product of successful team work.  We left no doubt in their minds that our professionalism is consistent every single day of the year."

The Larimer County jail has been ACA accredited for 27 years.  Although other audits resulted in scores in the high nineties, this is the first time the Larimer County Jail achieved 100% compliance. 

The American Correctional Association is a professional organization for corrections,  both public and private, that share a common goal of improving the justice system.  For more than 125 years, the American Correctional Association has championed the cause of corrections and correctional effectiveness.  Founded in 1870 as the National Prison Association, ACA is the oldest association developed specifically to promote professionalism and excellence in the correctional profession.