Standards and accreditation for jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities

Abstract Numerous challenges confront correctional health and custody staff in serving the needs of incarcerated adults and juveniles. Many types of “free world” health care organizations—such as hospitals, nursing homes, and psychiatric facilities—are accredited by the Joint Commission. Similarly, jails, prisons, juvenile detention, and other correctional facilities may be accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, whose origins trace back to an American Medical Association project. Although national accreditation is typically voluntary, it may often be a contractual requirement for university health care systems and private health care vendors. Some facilities that undergo investigation or litigation, or are placed under receivership, consent decrees, additional court monitoring, or other federal court oversight, may be mandated to establish and maintain national accreditation(s). This chapter presents a brief historical narrative of the events that resulted in the development of national jail, prison, and juvenile correctional health care standards. It also includes the recent growth in corrections-based opioid treatment programs, a review of jail and prison standards with an emphasis on psychiatry and mental health, and a discussion of accreditation and certification programs for correctional health care professionals.