The Hamilton County Jail in downtown Chattanooga has achieved 100 percent compliance with all standards and best practices set out by the American Correctional Association, according to an audit performed by the organization.
The accreditation process establishes clear objectives for correctional personnel including safety, security, programming, justice and management, among other things. In order to maintain the accreditation, jail staff must adhere to those standards by submitting annual reports to the Commission on Accreditation and participating in re-accreditation audits every years.
Jail administrators will attend a panel hearing in August to be awarded the national accreditation. The Hamilton County Jail is now one of only eight jails in Tennessee to achieve national accreditation from the American Correctional Association.
"I am very pleased with the level of commitment and determination shown by our Corrections personnel to achieve this prestigious accreditation," Sheriff Jim Hammond said in an emailed statement.
"The Hamilton COunty Jail is now one of only eight jail operations in Tennessee to receive such accreditation from the American Correctional Association."