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Department of Corrections
KSP receives three-year accreditation
Frankfort, KY – The Kentucky State Penitentiary (KSP) will receive their re-accreditation award during the American Correctional Association’s summer conference that will be held in Kansas City, MO in August 2007. This is the eighth audit for KSP.
“It is an honor to work with institutions that achieve this level of excellence,” said Commissioner John D. Rees. “Kentucky is a fine example of the ACA process being implemented and working to improve staff and inmate life.”
The accreditation program is a professional peer review process based on 523 national standards that have evolved since the founding of ACA in 1870. The standards address all areas of prison operation and programs and require constant monitoring and quality control checks. Each prison is audited by ACA every three years and has an inter-departmental audit (Program Security Review) every year. Kentucky has been involved with ACA since the early 1980s.
Warden Tom Simpson and his staff were praised for their hard work and dedication during the April 16th-18th audit. Chairperson Gail Zeek said, “I don’t often say I really enjoy an audit, but I really enjoyed this audit. We finished the files Tuesday afternoon which is unheard of. This is a reflection upon the staff and their hard work.” KSP scored 100% on the mandatory standards and 98.1% on the non-mandatory standards.
“The quality of life is top notch. This institution stands head and shoulders above the others I have audited across the country especially in regards to lighting and sanitation for such an old facility,” said auditor Gerald Ellsworth.
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