- Absconder
- A juvenile who fails to report for probation or aftercare supervision or an escapee or runaway from a juvenile placement.
- Accreditation Manager
- An agency employee designated by the agency administrator to supervise the planning and implementation of accreditation activities in the agency. He/she has comprehensive knowledge of the agency and sufficient authority within the agency to design and administer a successful accreditation strategy.
- Accreditation Panel
- The subunit of the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections empowered to review applications and make final decisions on agency accreditation.
- Accredited Status
- The three-year period during which the agency maintains and improves upon its standards compliance levels that were achieved at the time of the accreditation award.
- Adjudicatory hearing
- A hearing to determine whether the allegations of a petition are supported by the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt or by the preponderance of the evidence.
- Administrative segregation
- A form of separation from the general population administered by the classification committee or other authorized group when the continued presence of the inmate in the general population would pose a serious threat to life, property, self, staff or other inmates, or to the security or orderly running of the institution. Inmates pending investigation for trial on a criminal act or pending transfer also can be included. (See Protective custody and Segregation.)
- Administrator of field services
- The individual directly responsible for directing and controlling the operations of the adult probation and/or parole field services program. This person may be a division head in a large correctional agency, a chief probation officer answering to a judge, or the administrative officer of a court or parole authority with responsibility for the field services program.
- Admission
- The process of entry into a program. During admission processing, the juvenile or adult offender receives an orientation to program goals, rules and regulations. Assignment to living quarters and to appropriate staff also is completed at this time.
- Adult community residential service
- Also referred to as halfway house, a community-based program providing group residence (such as a house, work release center, prerelease center) for probationers, parolees, residents in incarcerated status, and referrals through the courts or other agencies. Clients also may receive these services from the agency on a nonresidential basis. (See Out-client.)
- Adult correctional institution
- A confinement facility, usually under state or federal auspices, that has custodial authority over adults sentenced to confinement for more than one year.
- Adult detention facility or Jail
- A local confinement facility with temporary custodial authority. Adults can be confined pending adjudication for 48 hours or more and usually for sentences of up to two years.
- Affirmative action
- A concept designed to ensure equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race, religion, age, sex or ethnic origin. These equal opportunities include all personnel programming such as selection, promotion, retention, rate of pay, demotion, transfer, layoff and termination.
- Aftercare
- Control, supervision and care exercised over juveniles released from facilities through a stated release program. (See Releasing authority.)
- Agency
- The unit of a governing authority that has direct responsibility for the operations of a correctional program, including the implementation of policy as set by the governing authority. For a community residential center, this would be the administrative headquarters of the facilities. A single community facility that is not a part of a formal consolidation of community facilities is considered to be an agency. In a public agency, this could be a probation department, welfare department or similar agency. For a juvenile correctional organization, this would be the central office responsible for governing the juvenile correctional system for the jurisdiction.
- Agency administrator
- The administrative officer appointed by the governing authority or designee who is responsible for all operations of the agency, such as the department of corrections or parole, and all related programs under his or her control.
- Agency industries administrator
- The individual who has functional responsibility for industries operations throughout the correctional system. Titles, such as head of industries, superintendent, chief, director or general manager, may be used to denote this position.
- Alternative meal service
- Special foods provided to comply with the medical, religious or security requirements. Alternative meals always must be designed to ensure that basic health needs are met and are provided in strict compliance with the policies signed by the chief executive officer, the chief medical officer, and for the religious diets, by the appropriate religious leader.
- Annual Certification Statement
- The document an accredited agency submits to ACA to verify continued compliance with the standards, report on its progress of implementing plans of action, and advise the Association of any significant events that may have occurred. It is due on the anniversary of the accreditation award.
- Appeal
- The agency's attempt to change the visiting committee's decision on a standard. The result of a successful appeal is a change in the status of the standard, either compliance or applicability, and a recalculation of the compliance tally.
- Applicant Agency
- An agency involved in the exchange of materials, information and correspondence with ACA while preparing to participate in the accreditation process.
- Audit
- The process by which an agency's compliance with standards is verified by a visiting committee during an on-site visit.
- Auditor
- The term frequently used to refer to ACA consultants who conduct the pre-accreditation assessments, technical assistance visits, standards compliance audits and monitoring visits.
- Booking
- Both a law enforcement process and a detention-facility procedure. As a police administrative action, it is an official recording of an arrest and the identification of the person, place, time, arresting authority and reason for the arrest. In a detention facility, it is a procedure for the admission of a person charged with or convicted of an offense, which includes searching, fingerprinting, photographing, medical screening and collecting personal history data. Booking also includes the inventory and storage of the individual's personal property.
- Boot camp
- A short-term correctional unit designed to combine elements of basic military training programs and appropriate correctional components.
- Camp
- A nonsecure residential program located in a relatively remote area. The residents participate in a structured program that emphasizes outdoor work, including conservation and related activities. There are often 20 to 60 residents in these facilities.
- Candidate Status
- The period after an agency has completed its self-evaluation report. Candidate Status continues until standards compliance is verified during the audit and the accreditation decision is made.
- Career development plan
- The planned sequence of promotions within an agency that contains provision for (1) vertical movement throughout the entire range of a particular discipline, (2) horizontal movement encouraging lateral and promotional movement among disciplines and (3) opportunity for all to compete for the position of head of the agency. Progression along these three dimensions can occur as long as the candidate has the ambition, ability and required qualifications.
- Case conference
- A conference between individuals working with the juvenile or adult offender to see that court-ordered services are being provided.
- Casework
- The function of the caseworker, social worker or other professional in providing social services, such as counseling, to individuals in custody.
- Cellblock
- A group or cluster of single and/or multiple occupancy cells or detention rooms immediately adjacent and directly accessible to a day or activity room. In some facilities, the cellblock consists of a row of cells fronted by a day room of corridor-like proportions.
- Chemical agent
- An active substance, such as tear gas, used to defer activities that might cause personal injury or property damage.
- Chemical dependency
- A compulsive use of alcohol or other drugs to the point that stopping is difficult and causes physical and mental reactions.
- Chief of police
- A local law enforcement official who is the appointed or elected chief executive of a police department and is responsible for the operation of the city jail or lockup.
- Chronic care
- Health care provided to patients over a long period of time; health care services provided to patients with long-term health conditions or illnesses. Care usually includes initial assessment, treatment and periodic monitoring to evaluate the patient's condition.
- Chronic illness
- A disease process or condition that persists over an extended period of time. Chronic illnesses include diabetes, hypertension, asthma, HIV, seizures and mental health diagnosis.
- Classification
- A process for determining the needs and requirements of those for whom confinement has been ordered and for assigning them to housing units and programs according to their needs and existing resources.
- Clinical services
- Health care services administered to offenders in a clinic setting by persons qualified to practice in one of the health care disciplines.
- Clinicians
- Persons qualified to assess, evaluate and treat patients according to the dictates of their professional practice act. These may include physicians, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers.
- Co-correctional facility
- An institution designed to house both male and female juvenile or adult offenders.
- Code of ethics
- A set of rules describing acceptable standards of conduct for all employees.
- Commission on Accreditation for Corrections (CAC)
- The term used collectively to refer to the elected and appointed members empowered to render accreditation decisions.
- Committing authority
- The agency or court responsible for placing a juvenile in a program.
- Communicable disease
- A disease that can be transmitted from person to person.
- Community-based program
- See Adult community residential service.
- Community resources
- Human services agencies, service clubs, citizen interest groups, self-help groups and individual citizen volunteers that offer services, facilities or other functions that can meet the needs of the facility or have the potential to assist residents. These various resources, which may be public or private and national or local, may assist with material and financial support, guidance, counseling and supportive services.
- Continuity of care
- Health care provided on a continual basis beginning with the offender's initial contact with health care personnel and all subsequent health care encounters, including referrals to community providers/facilities for offsite care during incarceration and when discharged from the institution.
- Contraband
- Any item possessed by confined juvenile or adult offenders or found within the facility that is illegal by law or expressly prohibited by those legally charged with the administration and operation of the facility or program.
- Contract
- The written, signed agreement between the ACA and the agency specifying responsibilities, activities and financial obligations.
- Contractor
- A person or organization that agrees to furnish materials or to perform services for the facility or jurisdiction at a specified price. Contractors operating in correctional facilities are subject to all applicable rules and regulations of the facility.
- Contractual arrangement
- An agreement with a private party (such as an incorporated agency or married couple) to provide services to juvenile or adult offenders for compensation. (See Independent operator.)
- Control center
- A very secure, self-contained unit designed to maintain the security of the facility. Policies governing the design, staffing and accessibility of the control center ensure that it cannot be commandeered by unauthorized persons.
- Controlled substance
- Any drug regulated by the Drug Enforcement Act.
- Co-payment
- A fee charged an offender by the correctional institution for health care or other services.
- Corporal punishment
- Any act of inflicting punishment directly on the body, causing pain or injury.
- Correctional facility
- A facility used for the incarceration of individuals accused of or convicted of criminal activity. A correctional facility is managed by a single chief executive officer with broad authority for the operation of the facility. This authorization typically includes the final authority for decisions concerning (1) the employment or termination of staff members and (2) the facility operation and programming within guidelines established by the parent agency or governing body.
A correctional facility also must have
(1) a separate perimeter that precludes the regular commingling of the inmates with inmates from other facilities, (2) a separate facility budget managed by a chief executive officer within guidelines established by the parent agency or governing authority and (3) staff who are permanently assigned to the facility.
- Correspondent Status
- The initial period after an agency applies for accreditation. At this time, the agency evaluates its compliance with the standards and prepares a self-evaluation report.
- Counseling
- Planned use of interpersonal relationships to promote social adjustment. Counseling programs provide opportunities to express feelings verbally with the goal of resolving the individual's problems. At least three types of counseling may be provided: individual (a one-to-one relationship), small-group counseling and large-group counseling in a living unit.
- County parole
- The status of a county jail inmate who, convicted of a misdemeanor and conditionally released from a confinement facility prior to the expiration of his or her sentence, has been placed under supervision in the community for a period of time.
- Credentials
- Documentation that demonstrates health care professionals are qualified and currently licensed, certified and/or registered as applicable to provide health services within their scope of practice.
- Delinquent act
- An act that, if committed by an adult, would be considered a crime.
- Delinquent youth
- Also referred to as a juvenile delinquent or a criminal-type offender, a juvenile who has been charged with or adjudicated for conduct that would, under the law of the jurisdiction in which the offense was committed, be a crime if committed by an adult. (See also Status offender and Juvenile.)
- Dental exam
- An examination by a licensed dentist that includes a dental history, exploration and charting of teeth, examination of the oral cavity and X-rays.
- Dental screen
- A visual assessment of the teeth and gums by a dentist or health care staff trained by a dentist. Documentation of findings includes referrals made for dental treatment.
- Detainee
- Any person confined in a local detention facility not serving a sentence for a criminal offense.
- Detainer
- A warrant placed against a person in a federal, state or local correctional facility that notifies the holding authority of the intention of another jurisdiction to take custody of that individual when he or she is released.
- Detention warrant
- A warrant that authorizes the arrest and temporary detention of a parolee pending preliminary revocation proceedings. A detention warrant should be distinguished from a warrant for the return of a parolee to prison, although return warrants are sometimes used as detainers. For the purpose of these standards, return warrants used as detainers also are deemed to be detention warrants.
- Detoxification
- The treatment of a person who is demonstrating symptoms of intoxication or withdrawal and/or the process of gradually withdrawing alcohol or drugs from a person who is chemically dependent.
- Developmental disabilities
- A disorder in which there is a delay in the expected age-specific development stages. These disabilities originate prior to age 21, can be expected to continue indefinitely, and may constitute a substantial impairment in behavior and coping skills.
- Direct supervision
- A method of inmate management that ensures continuing direct contact between inmates and staff by posting an officer(s) inside each housing unit. Officers in general housing units are not separated from inmates by a physical barrier. Officers provide frequent, nonscheduled observation of and personal interaction with inmates.
- Disability
- A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of an individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment.
- Disciplinary detention
- A form of separation from the general population in which inmates committing serious violations of conduct regulations are confined by the disciplinary committee or other authorized group for short periods of time to individual cells separated from the general population. Placement in detention only may occur after a finding of a rule violation at an impartial hearing and when there is not an adequate alternative disposition to regulate the inmate's behavior. (See Protective custody and Segregation.)
- Disciplinary hearing
- A nonjudicial administrative procedure to determine if substantial evidence exists to find an inmate guilty of a rule violation.
- Dispositional hearing
- A hearing held subsequent to the adjudicatory hearing to determine what order of disposition (for example, probation, training school or foster home) should be made concerning a juvenile adjudicated as delinquent.
- Diversion
- The official halting or suspension, at any legally prescribed point after a recorded justice system entry, of formal criminal or juvenile justice proceedings against an alleged offender. The suspension of proceedings may be in conjunction with a referral of that person to a treatment or care program administered by a nonjudicial agency or a private agency, or there may be no referral.
- Due process safeguards
- Those procedures that ensure just, equal and lawful treatment of an individual involved in all stages of the juvenile or criminal justice system, such as a notice of allegations, impartial and objective fact finding, the right to counsel, a written record of proceedings, a statement of any disposition ordered with the reasons for it, and the right to confront accusers, call witnesses and present evidence.
- Ectoparasites
- Parasites that live on the outside of the host. Examples: fleas, lice.
- Education program
- A program of formal academic education or a vocational training activity designed to improve employment capability.
- Educational release
- The designated time when residents or inmates leave the program or institution to attend school in the community and return to custody after school hours.
- Emergency
- Any significant disruption of normal facility or agency procedure, policy or activity caused by riot, escape, fire, natural disaster, employee action or other serious incident.
- Emergency care
- Care of an acute illness or unexpected health care need that cannot be deferred until the next scheduled sick call. Emergency care shall be provided to the resident population by the medical director, physician or other staff, local ambulance services, and/or outside hospital emergency rooms. This care shall be expedited by following specific written procedures for medical emergencies described in the standards.
- Environmental health
- All conditions, circumstances and surrounding influences that affect the health of individuals or groups in the area.
- Facility
- A place, institution, building (or part thereof), set of buildings or area (whether or not enclosing a building or set of buildings) that is used for the lawful custody and/or treatment of individuals. It may be owned and/or operated by public or private agencies and includes the staff and services as well as the buildings and grounds.
- Facility administrator
- Any official, regardless of local title (for example sheriff, chief of police, administrator, warden/superintendent) who has the ultimate responsibility for managing and operating the facility.
- Field agency
- The unit of a governing authority that has direct responsibility for the provision of field supervision services and for the carrying out of policy as set by the governing authority.
- Field services
- Services provided to delinquent juveniles, status offenders or adult offenders in the community by probation, parole or other agencies.
- Field staff/field workers
- The professionals assigned case responsibility for control, supervision and provision of program services to delinquent juveniles or adult offenders.
- First aid
- Care for a condition that requires immediate assistance from an individual trained in first aid care and the use of the facility's first aid kits.
- Fiscal position control
- The process that ensures that individuals on the payroll are legally employed, positions are authorized in the budget and funds are available.
- Footcandle
- A unit for measuring the intensity of illumination, defined as the amount of light thrown on a surface one foot away from the light source.
- Formulary
- A list of prescription and nonprescription medications that have been approved by the health authority and are stocked or routinely procured for use in an institution.
- Furlough/Temporary leave
- A period of time during which a resident is allowed to leave the facility and go into the community unsupervised.
- Good-time
- A system established by law whereby a convicted offender is credited a set amount of time, which is subtracted from his or her sentence, for specified periods of time served in an acceptable manner.
- Governing authority
- In public/governmental agencies, the administrative department or division to which the agency reports; the policy-setting body. In private agencies, this may be an administrative headquarters, central unit or the board of directors or trustees.
- Grievance/Grievance process
- A circumstance or action considered to be unjust and grounds for complaint or resentment and/or a response to that circumstance in the form of a written complaint filed with the appropriate body.
- Handicapped
- Having a mental or physical impediment or disadvantage that substantially limits an individual's ability to use programs or services.
- Health agency
- An organization that provides health care services to an institution or a system of institutions.
- Health appraisal
- The physician, health administrator or agency-designated individual responsible for the coordination and management of health services within an institution.
- Health authority
- The health administrator or agency responsible for the provision of health care services at an institution or system of institutions, the responsible physician may be the health authority.
- Health care
- The sum of all action taken, preventative and therapeutic, to provide for the physical and mental well-being of a population. It includes medical and dental services, mental health services, nursing, personal hygiene, dietary services and environmental conditions.
- Health care personnel
- Individuals whose primary duty is to provide health services to inmates in keeping with their respective levels of health care training or experience.
- Health care provider
- An individual licensed in the delivery of health care.
- Health care services
- A system of preventative and therapeutic services that provide for the physical and mental well-being of a population. Includes medical and dental services, mental health services, nursing, pharmaceutical servcies, personal hygiene, dietary services and environmental conditions.
- Health/medical screen
- A structured inquiry and observation to prevent newly arrived offenders who pose a health or safety threat to themselves or others from being admitted to the general population and to identify offenders who require immediate medical attention. The screen can be initiated at the time of admission by health care personnel or by a health-trained correctional officer.
- Health
- Trained personnel/Medically trained personnel--Correctional officers or other corrections personnel who may be trained and appropriately supervised to carry out specific duties with regard to the administration of health care.
- Hearing
- A proceeding to determine a course of action, such as the placement of a juvenile or adult offender, or to determine guilt or innocence in a disciplinary matter. Argument, witnesses or evidence are heard by a judicial officer or administrative body in making the determination.
- Hearing examiner
- An individual appointed by the parole authority who conducts hearings for the authority. His or her power of decision making may include, but not be limited to, making parole recommendations to granting, denying or revoking parole.
- Holding facility/Lockup
- A temporary confinement facility, for which the custodial authority is usually less than 48 hours, where arrested persons are held pending release, adjudication or transfer to another facility.
- Holidays
- All days legally designated as nonwork days by statute or by the chief governing authority of a jurisdiction.
- Improvement
- See Quality assurance.
- Independent operator
- A person or persons who contract with a correctional agency or other governmental agency to operate and manage a correctional program or facility.
- Independent source
- A person, organization or group that acts independently from the correctional unit being evaluated. An independent source may not be a staff member who reports to the chief executive officer of the unit being audited.
- Indigent
- An individual with no funds or source of income.
- Industries
- An activity existing in a correctional system that uses inmate labor to produce goods and/or services for sale. These goods and/or services are sold at prices calculated to recover all or a substantial portion of costs associated with their production and may include a margin of profit. Sale of the products and/or services is not limited to the institution where the industries activity is located.
- Infection control program
- A program designed to investigate, prevent and control the spread of infections and communicable disease.
- Infirmary
- A specific area within an institution, separate from other housing areas, where offenders are admitted for health observation and care under the supervision and direction of health care personnel.
- Information system/Management information system
- The concepts, personnel and supporting technology for the collection, organization and delivery of information for administrative use. There are two such types of information: (1) standard information, consisting of the data required for operations control such as the daily count, payroll data in a personnel office, probation/parole success rates, referral sources and caseload levels; (2) demand information, consisting of information that can be generated when a report is required, such as information on the number of residents in educational and training programs, duration of residence, or the number of residents eligible for discharge during a 12-month period by offense, sentence and month of release.
- Informed consent
- The agreement by a patient to a treatment, examination or procedure after the patient receives the material facts regarding the nature, consequences, risks and alternatives concerning the proposed treatment, examination or procedure.
- Inmate
- Any individual, whether in pretrial, unsentenced or sentenced status, who is confined in a correctional facility.
- Institution industries manager
- The individual designated as responsible for industries operations at a specific institution in the correctional system.
- Interstate compact for the supervision of probationers and parolees
- An agreement entered into by eligible jurisdictions in the United States and its territories that provides the criteria for these jurisdictions to cooperate in working with probation and release.
- Interstate compact on juveniles
- An agreement authorizing the interstate supervision of juvenile delinquents. This can also include the cooperative institutionalization of special types of delinquent juveniles such as psychotics and defective delinquents.
- Judicial review
- A proceeding to re-examine the course of action or continued confinement of a juvenile in a secure detention facility. Arguments, witnesses or evidence are not required as part of the review. Reviews may be conducted by a judge, judicial officer or an administrator who has been delegated the authority to release juveniles from secure detention with the approval of the judge.
- Juvenile
- A person under the age of 21, or as defined in the local jurisdiction as under the age of majority.
- Juvenile community residential program
- A program housed in a structure without security fences and security hardware or other major restraining construction typically associated with correctional facilities such as a converted apartment building or private home. They are not constructed as or intended to be detention facilities. Except for day care programs, they provide 24-hour care, programs and supervision to juveniles in residence. Their focus is on providing the juvenile with positive adult models and program activities that assist in resolving problems specific to this age group in an environment conducive to positive behavior in the community.
- Juvenile day treatment program
- A program that provides services to juveniles who live at home and report to the program on a daily basis. Juveniles in these programs require more attention than that provided by probation and aftercare services. Often the program operates its own education program through the local school district. The population usually is drawn from court commitments but may include juveniles enrolled as a preventive or diversionary measure. The program may operate as part of a residential program, and it may provide space for occasional overnight stays by program participants where circumstances warrant additional assistance.
- Juvenile detention
- Temporary care of juvenile offenders and juveniles alleged to be delinquent who require secure custody in a physically restricting facility.
- Juvenile group home
- A nonsecure residential program emphasizing family-style living in a home-like atmosphere. Program goals are similar to those for large community residential programs. Although group homes usually house juveniles who are court-committed, they also house abused or neglected juveniles who are placed by social agencies. Small group homes serve from four to eight juveniles; large group homes serve eight to 12. Participating juveniles range in age from 10 to 17, with the concentration from 13 to 16.
- Juvenile intake
- The process of determining whether the interests of the public or the juvenile require the filing of a petition with the juvenile court. Generally, an intake officer receives, reviews and processes complaints, recommends detention or release and provides services for juveniles and their families, including diversion and referral to other community agencies.
- Juvenile ranch
- A nonsecure residential program providing services to juveniles in a rural setting. Typically, the residents participate in a structured program of education, recreation and facility maintenance, including responsibility for the physical plant, its equipment and livestock. Often there are 20 to 60 juveniles in the ranch setting, ranging in age from 13 to 18.
- Life Safety Code
- A manual published and updated by the National Fire Protection Association, specifying minimum standards for fire safety necessary in the public interest. Two chapters are devoted to correctional facilities.
- Major equipment
- All equipment that is securely and permanently fastened to the building or any equipment with a current book value of $1,000 or more.
- Major infraction
- A rule violation involving a grievous loss and requiring imposition of due process procedures. Major infractions include (1) violations that may result in disciplinary detention or administrative segregation; (2) violations for which punishment may tend to increase an inmate's sentence; (3) violations that may result in a forfeiture, such as loss of good-time or work time; and (4) violations that may be referred for criminal prosecution.
- Mandatory Standards
- Those standards that directly affect the life, health and safety of offenders and correctional employees. To be eligible for accreditation, an agency must comply with all applicable mandatory standards.
- Medical records
- Separate records of medical examinations and diagnoses maintained by the responsible physician. The date and time of all medical examinations and copies of standing or direct medical orders from the physician to the facility staff should be transferred to the resident's record.
- Medical restraint
- Either chemical restraints, such as sedatives, or physical restraints, such as straitjackets, applied only for medical or psychiatric purposes. Metal handcuffing and leg shackles are not considered medical restraints.
- Medical screening
- A system of structured observation, the initial health assessment to identify newly arrived juvenile or adult offenders who pose a health or safety threat to themselves or others.
- Medication administration
- The process of giving a dose of a prescribed or over-the-counter medication to a patient.
- Medication dispensing
- The process of placing one or more doses of a medication into a container that is labeled to indicate the name of the patient, the contents of the container and other necessary information by an individual licensed to perform such an activity.
- Medication disposal
- The destruction or removal of medication from a facility after discontinuation of its use.
- Mental health staff
- Individuals whose primary duty is to provide mental health services to inmates in keeping with their respetive levels of education, experience, training and credentials.
- Mental illness
- Psychiatric illness or disease expressed primarily through abnormalities of thought, feeling and behavior producing either distress and/or impaired function.
- Mentally retarded
- Describes an individual who functions at a subaverage general intellectual level and is deficient in adaptive behavior.
- Midlevel practitioner
- A nurse practitioner or physician assistant licensed or credentialed to assume an expanded role in providing medical care under the supervision of a physician.
- Monitoring Visit
- A consultant visits the agency during the three-year award period to verify continued standards compliance at the request of the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections panel. At this time, the consultant may examine issues that were of concern to either the visiting committee or the panel such as quality of life and standards compliance levels.
- NFPA
- The National Fire Protection Association, which publishes the Life Safety Code.
- National uniform parole reports system
- A cooperative effort sponsored by the National Parole Institute that calls for the voluntary cooperation of all federal and state authorities having responsibility for felony offenders in developing some common terms to describe parolees -- their age, sex and prior record -- and some common definitions to describe parole performance. These types of data allow comparisons across states and other jurisdictions.
- Nonformulary medication
- Medications not listed in the institution or agency formulary.
- Not applicable
- A term used in the accreditation process to describe a standard that does not apply to the correctional unit being audited. While the initial determination of applicability is made by ACA staff and/or the audit team, the final decision rests with the hearing panel.
- Offender
- An individual convicted or adjudicated of a criminal offense.
- Official personnel file
- A current and accurate record of the employee's job history, including all pertinent information relating to that history.
- Operating unit
- One distinct operation of the industry's activity, which may be operated as a cost center or separate accounting entity. It may take the form of a manufacturing operation (e.g., furniture making or clothing production), an agricultural operation (e.g., dairy or poultry farming, crop or orchard farming, cow or pig farming), or a service activity (e.g., a warehouse, keypunch operation, microfilming process, laundering, auto repair and so forth).
- Out-client
- An individual who does not live at the facility but who may use facility services and programs.
- Outcome measure
- Measurable events, occurrences, conditions, behaviors or attitudes that demonstrate the extent to which a condition described has been achieved.
- Occupational exposure
- The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical or biological agents that occur as a result of one's occupation.
- Parent
- The individual with whom a juvenile regularly lives and who is the natural, adoptive or surrogate parent.
- Parent government organization/Parent agency
- The administrative department or division to whom the agency seeking accreditation reports; the policy-setting body.
- Parole authority/Parole board/Parole commission
- The decision-making body that has responsibility to grant, deny and/or revoke parole. The term "parole authority" includes all of these bodies.
- Parole hearing
- A procedure conducted by a parole authority member and/or hearing examiner in which all pertinent aspects of an eligible inmate's case are reviewed to make a decision or recommendation that would change the inmate's legal status and/or degree of freedom.
- Peer review
- The process of having patient care provided by a clinician reviewed and evaluated by a peer with similar credentials. An external peer review is completed by a medical professional not employed by the facility being reviewed.
- Permanent status
- A personnel status that provides due process protection prior to dismissal.
- Petition
- An application for a court order or other judicial action. For example, a delinquency petition is an application for the court to act in the matter of a juvenile apprehended for a delinquent act.
- Physical examination
- A thorough evaluation of a patient's current physical condition and medical history conducted by or under the supervision of a licensed professional.
- Placing authority
- The agency or body with the authority to order a juvenile into a specific dispositional placement. This may be the juvenile court, the probation department or another duly constituted and authorized placement agency.
- Plan of Action
- A detailed statement of actions that an agency takes to achieve compliance with a standard found in noncompliance at the time of the audit. The plan of action designates staff responsibilities and timetables for completing each task.
- Policy
- A course or line of action adopted and pursued by an agency that guides and determines present and future decisions and actions. Policies indicate the general course or direction of an organization within which the activities of the personnel must operate. They are statements of guiding principles that should be followed in directing activities toward the attainment of objectives. Their attainment may lead to compliance with standards and compliance with the overall goals of the agency or system.
- Population center
- A geographical area containing at least 10,000 people, along with public safety services, professional services, employment and educational opportunities, and cultural/recreational opportunities.
- Pre-Audit Assessment
- For agencies considering participation in accreditation, one or more consultants provide on-site assistance to evaluate an agency's strengths and deficiencies, and assess its readiness for accreditation.
- Preliminary hearing
- A hearing at which it is determined whether probable cause exists to support an allegation of parole violation, pending a revocation hearing by the parole authority.
- Pretrial release
- A procedure whereby an accused individual who had been taken into custody is allowed to be released before and during his or her trial.
- Probation
- A court-ordered disposition alternative through which a convicted adult offender or an adjudicated delinquent is placed under the control, supervision and care of a probation field staff member.
- Procedure
- The detailed and sequential actions that must be executed to ensure that a policy is fully implemented. It is the method of performing an operation or a manner of proceeding on a course of action. It differs from a policy in that it directs action in a particular situation to perform a specific task within the guidelines of policy.
- Process indicators
- Documentation and other evidence that can be examined periodically and continuously to determine that practices are being implemented properly.
- Professional association
- A collective body of individuals engaged in a particular profession or vocation. The American Correctional Association, the American Medical Association, and the National Association of Clinical Psychologists are examples of professional associations, of which there are hundreds in the United States.
- Professional staff
- Social workers, probation officers and other staff assigned to juvenile and adult offender cases. These individuals generally possess bachelor's degrees and advanced training in the social or behavioral sciences.
- Program
- The plan or system through which a correctional agency works to meet its goals; often this program requires a distinct physical setting such as a correctional institution, community residential facility, group home or foster home.
- Program director/Administrator/Superintendent/Houseparent
- The individual directly in charge of the program.
- Protective custody
- A form of separation from the general population for inmates requesting or requiring protection from other inmates for reasons of health or safety. The inmate's status is reviewed periodically by the classification committee or other designated group. (See Administrative segregation and Disciplinary detention.)
- Prosthesis
- A functional or cosmetic, artificial device that substitutes for a missing body part such as an arm, leg, eye or tooth.
- Protocols
- Written instructions that guide implementation of expected practices, such as policies and procedures, training curriculum, offender handbooks, diagrams and internal forms and logs.
- Psychotropic medication
- A drug that exerts an effect on thought, mood and behavior. Psychotropic medications are used to treat various disorders as well as mental illness.
- Qualified medical person
- An individual who has the education, credentials and experience, and is permitted by law within the scope of his or her professional practice act, to evaluate and care for patients.
- Qualified mental health person
- An individual who has the education, credentials and experience, and is permitted by law within the scope of his or her professional practice act, to evaluate and care for the mental health needs of patients.
- Quality assurance/Improvement
- A formal, internal monitoring program that uses standardized criteria to ensure quality and consistency. The program identifies opportunities for improvement, develops improvement strategies and monitors their effectiveness.
- Records (juvenile and adult offenders)
- Information concerning the individual's delinquent or criminal, personal, and medical history and behavior and activities while in custody, including but not limited to commitment papers, court orders, detainers, personal property receipts, visitors' lists, photographs, fingerprints, type of custody, disciplinary infractions and actions taken, grievance reports, work assignments, program participation and miscellaneous correspondence.
- Referral
- The process by which a juvenile or adult offender is introduced to an agency or service that can provide the assistance needed.
- Release on bail
- The release by a judicial officer of an accused individual who has been taken into custody on the accused's promise to appear in court as required for criminal proceedings.
- Releasing authority
- The decision-making body and/or individual who has the responsibility to grant, deny and revoke release from a juvenile institution or program of supervision. In some jurisdictions, it is called the parole board or the parole commission. (See Aftercare)
- Renovation
- A significant structural or design change in the physical plant of a facility.
- Responsible physician
- An individual licensed to practice medicine and provide health services to the inmate population of the facility and/or the physician at an institution with final responsibility for decisions related to medical judgments.
- Revocation hearing
- A hearing before the parole authority at which it is determined whether revocation of parole should be made final.
- Safety equipment
- Primarily firefighting equipment such as chemical extinguishers, hoses, nozzles, water supplies, alarm systems, sprinkler systems, portable breathing devices, gas masks, fans, first aid kits, stretchers and emergency alarms.
- Safety vestibule
- In a correctional facility, a grill cage that divides the inmate areas from the remainder of the institution. They must have two doors or gates, only one of which opens at a time, to permit entry to or exit from inmate areas in a safe and controlled manner.
- Sally port
- An enclosure situated in the perimeter wall or fence of a correctional facility containing gates or doors at both ends, only one of which opens at a time, ensuring there will be no breach in the perimeter security of the institution. The sally port may handle either pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Secure institution
- Any facility that is designed and operated to ensure that all entrances and exits are under the exclusive control of the facility's staff, thereby not allowing an inmate/resident to leave the facility unsupervised or without permission.
- Security or Custody
- The degree of restriction of inmate movement within a detention/correctional facility, usually divided into maximum, medium and minimum risk levels.
- Security devices
- Locks, gates, doors, bars, fences, screens, ceilings, floors, walls and barriers used to confine and control detained individuals. Also included are electronic monitoring equipment, security alarm systems, security lights, auxiliary power supplies and other equipment used to maintain facility security.
- Security perimeter
- The outer portions of a facility that provide for secure confinement of facility inmates/residents. The design of the perimeter may vary depending on the security classification of the facility.
- Segregation
- The confinement of an inmate to an individual cell that is separated from the general population. There are three forms of segregation: administrative segregation, disciplinary detention and protective custody.
- Self-Evaluation Report
- The document prepared by the agency in Correspondent Status that includes basic descriptive information about the agency, the results of the agency's assessment of its compliance with the standards, including reasons for noncompliance and nonapplicability, and a tally reflecting percentages of compliance with the standards.
- Self-insurance coverage
- A statewide system designed to insure the payment of all legal claims for injury or damage incurred as a result of the actions of state officials, employees or agents. In public agencies, the self-insurance program is usually authorized by the legislature. A "memorandum of insurance" or similar document is required that acts as a policy, setting the limits of liability for various categories of risk, including deductible limits. Approval of the policy by a cabinet-level official is also required.
- Serious incident
- A situation in which injury serious enough to warrant medical attention occurs involving a resident, employee or visitor on the grounds of the institution. Also, a situation containing an imminent threat to the security of the institution and/or to the safety of residents, employees or visitors on the grounds of the institution.
- Severe mental disturbance
- A condition in which an individual is a danger to self or others or is incapable of attending to basic physiological needs.
- Shelter facility
- Any nonsecure public or private facility designated to provide either temporary placement for alleged or adjudicated status offenders prior to the issuance of a disposition order or longer-term care under a juvenile court disposition order.
- Sheriff
- The elected or appointed chief executive officer of a county law enforcement agency. Sheriffs can serve several functions, including responsibility for law enforcement in unincorporated areas, operation of the county jail, and assignment as officers of the court.
- Special management inmates
- Individuals whose behavior presents a serious threat to the safety and security of the facility, staff, general inmate population or themselves. Special handling and/or housing is required to regulate their behavior.
- Special needs
- A mental and/or physical condition that requires different accommodations or arrangements than a general population offender normally would receive. Offenders with special needs may include, but are not limited to, the emotionally disturbed, developmentally disabled, mentally ill, physically handicapped, chronically ill, the disabled or infirm and the drug or alcohol addicted.
- Standard
- A statement that defines a required or essential condition to be achieved or maintained.
- Standards Compliance Checklist
- A form used in the standards compliance files to indicate the agency's and visiting committee's determination on each standard (compliance, noncompliance and nonapplicability). It also includes a listing of supporting documentation.
- Status offender
- A juvenile who has been charged with or adjudicated for conduct that under the law of the jurisdiction in which the offense was committed that would not be a crime if committed by an adult. (See also Delinquent youth.)
- Strip search
- An examination of an inmate's/resident's naked body for weapons, contraband and physical abnormalities. This also includes a thorough search of all of the individual's clothing while it is not being worn.
- Temporary release
- A period of time during which an inmate is allowed to leave the program or institution and go into the community unsupervised for various purposes consistent with the public interest.
- Therapeutic diet
- A diet prescribed by a health care practitioner as part of the patient's medical treatment. Therapeutic diets can be ordered by physicians, physician's assistants or nurse practitioners.
- Training
- An organized, planned and evaluated activity designed to achieve specific learning objectives and enhance the job performance of personnel. Training may occur on site, at an academy or training center, an institution of higher learning, during professional meetings, or through contract service or closely supervised on-the-job training. It includes a formal agenda and instruction by a teacher, manager or official; physical training; or other instruction programs that include a trainer/trainee relationship. Training programs usually include requirements for completion, attendance recording and a system for recognition of completion. Meetings of professional associations are considered training where there is clear evidence of this.
- Training School
- Training school/Juvenile development center/Juvenile village/Juvenile correction center/Juvenile treatment centers/Juvenile service center/School or home for boys and girls. The typical training center may provide supervision, programs and residential services for more than 100 residents; however, programs of this size are not encouraged. These facilities are designed and operated to be secure institutions. Juvenile development centers, juvenile treatment centers, secure training schools and other facilities in the category may serve relatively smaller populations ranging from 40 to 100 juveniles. The age range served is generally from 13 to 18, although in many jurisdictions, residents may be as young as 10 or as old as 20. Older residents are usually juveniles who have been returned to the facility as parole violators.
- Treatment plan
- A series of written statements that specify the particular course of therapy and the roles of medical and nonmedical personnel in carrying it out. A treatment plan is individualized, based on assessment of the individual patient's needs, and includes a statement of the short- and long-term goals and the methods by which the goals will be pursued. When clinically indicated, the treatment plan provides inmates with access to a range of supportive and rehabilitative services such as individual or group counseling and/or self-help groups that the physician deems appropriate.
- Triage
- The screening and classification of offender health care concerns to determine the priority of need and the appropriate level of intervention.
- Uncontrolled
- Significant clinical signs outside of normal parameters as defined by the responsible physician.
- Unit management
- A management system that subdivides an institution into units. The unit management system has several basic requirements:
(1) Each unit holds a relatively small number of inmates. Ideally, there should be fewer than 150 but not more than 500 inmates.
(2) Inmates are housed in the same unit for a major portion of their confinement.
(3) Inmates assigned to a unit work in a close relationship with a multidisciplinary staff team who are regularly assigned to the unit and whose officers are located within the unit.
(4) Staff members have decision-making authority for the institutional programming and living conditions for the inmates assigned to the unit within broad rules, policies and guidelines established by the agency and/or the facility administrator.
(5) Inmate assignments to a unit are based on the inmate's need for control, security and programs offered.
Unit management increases contact between staff and inmates, fosters increased interpersonal relationships and leads to more knowledgeable decision making as a direct result of staff dealing with a smaller, more permanent group. At the same time, the facility benefits from the economies inherent in centralized service facilities such as utilities, food service, health care, educational systems, vocational programs and recreational facilities.
- Urine surveillance program
- A program whereby urine samples are collected on an irregular basis from offenders suspected of having a history of drug use to determine current or recent use.
- Visiting Committee
- Two or more ACA auditors who complete an on-site audit to verify an agency's standards compliance.
- Visiting Committee Report
- The document prepared by the visiting committee chairperson and submitted to the Commission. This report includes a description of the agency, conditions of confinement/quality of life, determination of compliance, noncompliance or nonapplicability of standards and the agency response to audit findings.
- Volunteer
- An individual who donates his or her time and effort to enhance the activities and programs of the agency. They are selected on the basis of their skills or personal qualities to provide services in recreation, counseling, education, religion and so forth.
- Waiver
- A commission panel decision that releases the correctional unit from the responsibility of preparing a plan of action to bring the unit into compliance with a standard.
- Warden/Superintendent
- The individual in charge of the institution; the chief executive or administrative officer. This position is sometimes referred to by other titles, but "warden" and "superintendent" are the most commonly used terms.
- Work release
- A formal arrangement sanctioned by law whereby an inmate/resident is released into the community to maintain approved and regular employment.
- Workers' Compensation
- A statewide system of benefits for employees who are disabled by job-related injury.
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