The Hamilton County Jail recently achieved 100 percent compliance with all 153 American Correctional Association standards and best practices for jails in a national accreditation audit, Sheriff Jim Hammond said in a news release Friday.
“This is an exceptional accomplishment for a facility over 30 years old and is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the staff who work at the Hamilton County Jail,” Hammond said.
The Hamilton County Jail in downtown Chattanooga in shown in August 2015.Jail administrators attended a panel hearing in August where they were awarded the national accreditation from the American Correctional Association.
The release said the Hamilton County Jail is now one of only eight Tennessee jails to achieve national accreditation from the American Correctional Association, the driving force in establishing national correctional policies and advocating safe, humane and effective correctional operations.
The facility can maintain its accreditation by complying with the standards and best practices for jails, submitting annual reports to the Commission on Accreditation, and participating in ACA re-accreditation audits every three years.