FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2020) – The Division of Corrections Training (DCT) received a perfect score during its recent re-accreditation audit with the American Correctional Association (ACA). The audit was hosted at the Southern Region Training Center (SRTC) in Danville, Kentucky.
The audit team consisted of chairperson, Carol Thomas who traveled from Douglasville, Georgia and auditor Gerald “Jerry” Carnes who traveled from McMillan, Michigan.
“I would like to say thank you to our auditors, Carol Thomas and Gerald Carnes, for their professional and thorough review of our ACA files, and interviewing our staff,” said Director Bridget Gilliland. “Across the four training centers, everyone works together as one big team. This teamwork was evident throughout our audit. We are fortunate to have such passionate staff that truly care so much about ensuring that we provide the very best training possible for the DOC.”
The audit team interviewed correctional staff who had participated in an institutional pre-service academy within the past one to two years and were very pleased with the information received regarding the instructors. They acknowledged their professionalism and training they received.
“Previously I had been 50-50 as to whether or not I preferred paper or electronic files,” said Carnes. “However, after reviewing the Division of Corrections Training’s files I am 100% on board with electronic files.”
“I am very proud of our training staff,” said Commissioner Cookie Crews. “To attain a score of 100% on an ACA audit requires a meticulous determination from everyone in the division.”
ACA audits for correctional training academies consist of 106 national standards that include administration, fiscal, personnel, training, sanitation, and security and control. The Division of Corrections Training is audited by the ACA every three years and has an inter-departmental audit (program security review) every year. Kentucky has been a member of ACA since the early 1980s.