Justice and Public Safety Cabinet
Kentucky Prison Scores 100% on Accreditation Audit

Frankfort, KY – Kentucky Department of Corrections Commissioner John D. Rees proudly announced the national accreditation of the newest prison in Kentucky. Little Sandy Correctional Complex (LSCC) is located in Sandy Hook and officially opened in July of 2005.  LSCC is a medium security facility that houses close to 900 inmates. 

The accreditation program is a professional peer review process based on 523 national standards that have evolved since the founding of The American Correctional Association (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.

LSCC scored 100 percent on both the mandatory and non-mandatory standards. “I have opened seven or eight institutions and have been involved in 10 or 12 initial audits and this is the best I can ever remember,” said Commissioner John D. Rees.  “I am very proud of Warden Beckstrom and his entire staff.  Prior to LSCC’s accreditation, Kentucky had 12 institutions and all have received and maintained their accreditation with scores in the high 90 percentiles. This is the first medium security state prison in Kentucky that has obtained this score.”   

Gail Zeek, Audit Chairman said, “This is the best initial audit I have ever participated in.  I’m a strict auditor and for a prison to score a 100% on their initial audit certainly says something for the staff and entire facility.”

“I’d like to thank my entire staff for all their hard work, dedication, and team effort,” said Beckstrom. “You have worked hard and should take great pride in your accomplishment.”