America’s prison system is plagued with problems that include overcrowding and decreasing budgets. However, the law requires that individuals who are incarcerated be treated humanely and be provided the basic necessities of life. To avoid claims of constitutional violations, it is imperative that correctional professionals do everything possible to demonstrate a genuine concern for the welfare of those in their charge. The ACA has established standards that reflect “best correctional practices” for correctional facilities of all types. The standards were developed through a deliberative process involving experts from around the country and at all levels and facets of corrections and criminal justice. ACA standards provide an objective measure through which performance and resources can be measured and an ACA accreditation denotes that the facility meets the highest level of professional standards, offering a clear indication that correctional agencies are meeting human rights requirements. Corrections professionals can thus ensure through ACA accreditation that they are performing at the very top professional level. 5 Endnotes