On March 31, 2024, the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (FBOP) most recent contract with the American Correctional Association (ACA), which sought accreditation for all FBOP institutions, training centers, and the Central Office Headquarters, expired. ACA specializes in providing accreditation services for correctional facilities at various levels, including state, local, federal, and private institutions. Despite the absence of federal mandates requiring accreditation, the FBOP recognized the value in ACA's health, safety, and security standards for both employees and those individuals in the FBOP's care and custody.
After careful consideration, the FBOP has decided to explore other options to ensure continued improvement and innovation in correctional standards for the well-being of adults in custody and the FBOP's workforce. The FBOP remains committed to a rigorous assessment of its policies and practices involving all levels of leadership to inform continuous organizational improvement. Additionally, the FBOP has implemented the use of Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards published by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), standards followed by external entities such as the DOJ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and GAO.
Moving forward, the FBOP will evaluate internal control options to ensure its facilities continue to meet and exceed the highest standards of correctional excellence with a renewed commitment to transparency and accountability in support of the FBOP's strategic goals.