Washington, Jun 17, 2003 - Liberty Hall Recommended for ACA Accreditation
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (June 17, 2003)—A committee of American Correctional Association (ACA) auditors recommended Community Education Center’s Liberty Hall facility for accreditation based on compliance with ACA national standards. The auditors gave Liberty Hall a score of 100% on both mandatory and nonmandatory standards, which are established by ACA and serve as a benchmark for the effective operation of correctional facilities throughout the United States.

Liberty Hall is the third CEC facility in the last year to achieve a perfect score following an ACA audit. Tooley Hall in Denver, Colorado and Community Alternatives of El Paso County (CAE) in Colorado Springs both received a score of 100% on mandatory and nonmandatory ACA standards in May 2002. Tooley Hall is a 60-bed women’s residential treatment facility and CAE is a 200-bed residential treatment center for women and men.

“I’m proud of the accomplishments of Liberty Hall and our other facilities that have achieved ACA accreditation. Receiving accreditation is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of our employees. I’d like to express my gratitude to all those who helped us reach our accreditation goals,” said John Clancy, President and CEO of Community Education Centers.

The ACA standards address services, programs and operations essential to sound correctional management, including staff training and development, physical plant, safety and emergency procedures, sanitation, food service, rules and discipline and financial procedures.

During the two-day audit, committee members reviewed the standards based on written documentation, observations and interviews with staff and residents. “Liberty Hall has been working hard in preparing for the audit,” according to Steve Krajcir, Director of the facility.

The accreditation process can take up to 18 months and requires daily upkeep of the physical plant, resident files and administrative functions necessary to meet ACA standards. “All of the staff at Liberty Hall have been very helpful during the accreditation process,” added Michelle Ryder, Assistant Director.

The auditors will present their recommendation to a panel of ACA commissioners at a final hearing in August.

Liberty Hall is a 250-bed facility that provides treatment services for Technical Rule Violators who are referred to the program by local Community Correction agencies and Probation Departments. The facility, which opened in November 2001, is the first Technical Rule Violation (TRV) Center to be established in the State of Indiana.

Liberty Hall provides a residential treatment program focusing on a cognitive behavioral model that encompasses substance abuse treatment, GED/adult and basic education, life skills, employment preparation and community reintegration.