American Correctional Association

1 American Correctional Association History of the American Correctional Association The American Correctional Association (ACA) was started as the National Prison Association in 1870. Its first president was Rutherford B. Hayes from Cincinnati, Ohio (American Correctional Association (ACA), n.d.). ACA adopted the guidelines for corrections developed during the first meeting in 1870. These guidelines were revised in 1970 and updated again in 1982, 2002, and 2019 (ACA, n.d.). Currently, thousands of people from all over the world are members of the ACA. ACA’s mission is to offer a professional organization for private and public groups and individuals aiming to enhance the justice system. Its vision is to shape the future of the corrections field by using strong and progressive leadership to unite different voices and create partnerships and coalitions aimed at upholding the concepts contained in the Declaration of Principles.

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2 ACA’s goals include the expansion of membership, promotion of diversity, the integrity of standards and accreditation, enhancement of the positive perception of corrections by the public, promotion of ethics, professional development, research and education, and development of international relations (ACA, n.d.).

Impact of the American Correctional Association on Prisoner Rights The ACA has had a profound impact on the rights of prisoners. For example, the ACA Code of Ethics requires correctional institutions to respect people’s individuality and dignity and be committed to compassionate and professional service (Siegel & Bartollas, 2015). The ACA members are expected to protect and respect all the people’s legal and civil rights. The code of ethics also forbids members from discriminating against any person based on age, race, national origin, gender, religious affiliation, disability, and creed (Siegel & Bartollas, 2015).

Moreover, ACA has improved prisoners’ rights by enhancing professionalism in the corrections field. Due to the improvement in professionalism, the corrections personnel treat the prisoners with integrity and dignity instead of abusing them. For instance, the staff members are expected to treat prisoners as they would want their brothers or fathers to be treated in a correctional facility (Siegel & Bartollas, 2015). The correctional officers also go the extra mile for offenders, particularly in community supervision. Improved professionalism also made the corrections staff start acting as people of integrity who did the right thing at all times.

ACA’s Declaration of Principles incorporate several aspects, including humanity, protection, competence, justice, accountability, knowledge, and opportunity. ACA requires its members to abide by these principles, and this has led to the improvement of prisoner rights in many corrections facilities. The principle of humanity requires corrections to uphold the rights and dignity of everyone, including the prisoners (ACA, n.d.). ACA governs corrections practices

3 and administrative policies by the principle of humanity and measures it against the standard of decency and fairness when dealing with the crime victims, prisoners, staff, and the general public. In line with this principle, ACA requires corrections facilities and other sectors of the criminal justice system to avoid excessive restrictions and only opt for the confinement of offenders when no other safe alternative is viable. ACA’s principle of justice requires prisoners to be treated with respect, fairness, integrity, humaneness, and dignity. Corrections officers are also required to provide rehabilitation and restoration programs for the prisoners.

ACA also requires the corrections workers to adhere to the principle of protection by offering security to the prisoners and ensure that they stay in safe, sanitary, humane, and secure facilities (ACA, n.d.). They also need to ensure that inmates receive healthcare, nutrition, shelter, fire and building safety, and clothing. Correction officers are also required to protect prisoners from harming each other or the other members of the public. The principle of opportunity has also led to the improvement of prisoner rights as ACA requires corrections facilities to offer educational services, constructive activities, and rehabilitative programs to the inmates to promote their behavioral change (ACA, n.d.). They offer the prisoners the opportunity to reform rather than just punishing them without giving them a chance for redemption.

The principle of accountability has also improved prisoner rights as correctional workers are held accountable for their actions and decisions, including the humane treatment of inmates.

Moreover, the principle of competence ensures that all the corrections workers are competent in performing their duties according to the ACA professional standards, laws, agency policies, regulations, and certifications (ACA, n.d.). Employing correctional staff who are well-trained ensures that they perform their roles according to professional standards and deliver services effectively to the inmates. Lastly, the principle of knowledge ensures that corrections leaders

4 acquire knowledge and implement evidence-based practices in their facilities to ensure positive change. Such leaders implement policies, practices, and programs based on accurate research and information and guided by professional standards to ensure the prisoners' well-being.

Influence of the American Correctional Association on the Field of Corrections The ACA is one of the professional associations that has contributed to the changes in the corrections field because of its role as an active lobbyist. For example, it introduced a set of national standards to guide correctional practices in prisons, jails, and field services (Clear et al., 2018). ACA gives accreditation to correctional agencies meeting its standards. Overall, the changes occurring in the corrections field today can be attributed to the efforts by ACA. ACA has increased professionalism in the corrections field through the training and development of staff. The association established training standards in the 1970s, which greatly influenced the corrections field. For example, it introduced a training standard requiring corrections staff to undergo 120 hours and 40 hours for preservice and annual in-service training, respectively (Siegel & Bartollas, 2015). Other corrections agencies also started providing training to corrections workers. Staff training was vital because it led to uniformity in administration, and it was one of the most significant motivations towards professionalism in the corrections field (Siegel & Bartollas, 2015). Today, there is increased professionalism in corrections as the personnel is dedicated to making a difference, model positive behavior to staff and prisoners, create a positive work environment, and are proactive leaders.

The association also contributed to the emphasis on integrity and ethics in the corrections field. In the late 20th century, law enforcement and corrections agencies realized that emphasizing integrity would play a pivotal role in their recognition as professional entities (Siegel & Bartollas, 2015). People of integrity demonstrate honesty and show that there is no

5 contradiction between their words and actions. Corrections workers with integrity can maintain their composure despite what is happening. Such individuals can be counted on in difficult times to resolve situations calmly. The ACA Code of Ethics played a critical role in the emphasis on integrity and ethics in corrections facilities. The code of ethics requires members to respect others’ civil rights, avoid using their positions to get personal privileges, have concern for everyone involved when dealing with any situation, and ensure that the workplace is safe, healthy, and free of harassment. Many corrections facilities have implemented ACA’s standards and accreditation. By 2012, approximately 1,289 corrections services in the US had received ACA’s accreditation (Siegel & Bartollas, 2015).

6 References American Correctional Association (ACA). (n.d.). The history of the American Correctional Association. Retrieved from http://www.aca.org/ACA_Prod_IMIS/ACA_Member/About_Us/Our_History/ACA_Me mber/AboutUs/AboutUs_Home.aspx?hkey=0c9cb058-e3d5-4bb0-ba7c-be29f9b34380 Clear, T. R., Reisig, M. D., & Cole, G. F. (2018). American corrections. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Siegel, L. J. & Bartollas, C. (2015). Corrections today. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.