The American Correctional Association (ACA) and the Florida Corrections Association Commission, Inc. are private, non-profit professional organizations that administer accreditation programs for all components of correctional agencies. To that end, ACA is the only national accreditation program and the FCAC is the only recognized  state accreditation program for adult detention centers and pre-trial release programs.   The ACA and FCAC accreditation processes provides the Director with a management tool that facilitates more essential and effective operations of Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCR) detention centers and administrative offices. MDCR is proud to be affiliated with both of the aforementioned respected accrediting bodies.

Currently the following facilities are accredited by ACA:

Boot Camp
Initial Accreditation Date: March, 2004
Reaccredited: March, 2007

Women’s Detention Center 
Initial Accreditation Date: June, 1982
Reaccredited: June, 2007

Central Administrative Offices
Initial Accreditation Date: February, 2002
Reaccredited: February, 2008

As part of the MDCR Department Business Plan, the following facilities are targeted for FCAC accreditation by January 2010:

Women’s Detention Center
Training and Treatment Center
Metro West Detention Center
Pre-Trial Services Bureau

The accreditation process offers MDCR the opportunity to evaluate its operations against national (ACA) and state (FCAC) standards, to remedy deficiencies, and upgrade the quality of correctional programs and services. The recognized benefits from accreditation include improved management, defense against lawsuits through documentation, the demonstration of a “good faith” effort to improve conditions of confinement, a safer and more humane environment for personnel and offenders, and the establishment of measurable criteria for enhancements to programs, personnel practices, and physical plant conditions.

To achieve accredited status by either the ACA or FCAC, an entity must prepare for and pass an inspection conducted by an audit team representing the accrediting body. During the audit, the agency's compliance with applicable standards and quality of life indicators is scrutinized. To maintain accredited status, an entity must successfully demonstrate acceptable standards compliance and quality of life levels on an annual basis and undergo a re-accreditation audit by the accrediting body every three years.