Department of Corrections
Roederer Correctional Complex Receives Near-Perfect Score in Re-Accreditation Audit

Roederer Correctional Complex (RCC) received a near perfect score during its re-accreditation audit this week with the American Correctional Association (ACA). The score of 99.8 percent was the prison’s highest ever audit score.

RCC is the Department’s Assessment and Classification Center for all incoming male felons with the exception of those sentenced to death row. More than 7,000 inmates are processed by the prison each year.

In announcing the scores, audit chairperson John O’Nellion, a retired corrections professional from Louisiana, praised the prison’s staff.

“The work that has gone into the institution in preparation for the audit is very evident and is a credit to the facility and staff,” said O’Nellion.

The auditors were also very impressed with the electronic ACA files, which are a first for Kentucky.  The file system was developed by DOC staff and will be showcased at the upcoming Correctional Accreditation Managers Association conference in May and the ACA conference in August. The electronic system enabled the audit team to finish their review of the required standards early and gave them the opportunity to visit areas of the facility they normally cannot see, according to the auditors. They described the new system as “the best they had seen.”

“This was a team effort,” said RCC Warden James Sweatt. “The score is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the staff and I am very proud of them.”

Commissioner LaDonna Thompson also congratulated the RCC employees.

“I am very pleased to see the continued excellence demonstrated by the staff of the Roederer Correctional Complex. This score is indicative of the commitment they exhibit day in and day out to get the job done and we are very proud of this recognition from an objective national auditing team.”

ACA consists of 500 national standards that cover security, operational and programming aspects of a prison, 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 a member of ACA since the early 1980s.