Following Haiti's President Aristide's leaving office in February 2004, rebel forces destroyed many of the nation's prisons and jails, and all the inmates escaped. As of November 2004, many detention facilities were still not in functioning condition, and those that did hold inmates were generally dirty and crowded, often lacking sanitary facilities. ACA's first steps toward aiding the Haitian correctional system began when the ACA approached Ronald Edwards, a long-time ACA member, to participate in a U.S. Government program that involved American correctional professionals working in Haiti. Edwards provides technical advice to the director of Haiti's prison system. Since Edwards' arrival in Haiti in July 2004, more than 10 facilities have been sufficiently restored to house inmates. Edwards hands-on aid has been supplemented by the efforts of correctional staff in the United States in sending much-needed supplies to Haiti's National Penitentiary Administration. Medical and office supplies requested by Haitian prison officials were shipped in the spring of 2005. Thus far, the Haitian National Penitentiary Administration has restored 16 of the previous 21 prisons.