NCJ Number
100577
Date Published
1985
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The Commission on Accreditation for Corrections (CAC) has repeatedly refused to take effective steps to guarantee its independence and ensure the integrity of its decisions.
Abstract
The CAC has refused to involve the public in the accreditation process. The public is not solicited for comments on corrections standards, CAC deliberations are secret, and standards-compliance evaluations are not released to the public. CAC audit techniques and deliberative procedures do not ensure accurate, complete, and unbiased factfinding. In responding to constructive criticism and reform efforts, the CAC has typically used rationalization and justification to avoid needed changes. The CAC gives priority to increasing the number of correctional facilities accredited, justifying a short-term relaxation of its scrutiny. The CAC has pervasive conflicts of interest with the facilities it monitors because it is funded largely by the fees of applicants, and the CAC is perceived as an arm of the American Correctional Association, which is composed of corrections officials whose performance the commission evaluates. Finally, the CAC has permitted the accreditation movement to become a propaganda vehicle for corrections authorities. 52 notes.