REVIEW AND STANDARDS
Mission
To monitor correctional units’ adherence to TDCJ rules, regulations, policies and practices, as well as applicable American Correctional Association standards. The focus is on providing public safety, ensuring humane treatment of adult felons, and facilitating effective operation of correctional units. The primary responsibilities of Review & Standards are: Use of Force, Operational Review and ACA Accreditation.
Administrative Monitor for Use of Force (UOF)
The Office of the Administrative Monitor for Use of Force serves as the office of record for Major Use of Force reporting. The core functions are:
- To provide technical guidance through review of use of force documentation.
- To develop and update guidelines for the Agency UOF Plan and associated policies and procedures.
- To provide a central point of contact for open records requests regarding UOF.
- To conduct UOF training as needed for unit, regional and central office staff.
- To monitor adherence to the Agency UOF Plan, policies and procedures.
Monitoring & Standards
A balance of internal and external oversight, the Monitoring & Standards department is comprised of two complementary programs. A two-tiered system of internal controls, the Operational Review Program provides Agency managers with performance measures of unit and departmental operational effectiveness.
- Unit Level – At state-operated correctional units, a sergeant of correctional officers conducts one review every six months in each functional area/department.
- Division Level – At both state and privately operated units, functional area proponents (from either divisional or regional headquarters locations) conduct a review once every three years. Follow-up reviews are conducted to ensure acceptable performance measures have been achieved.
- Central Office – The Monitoring & Standards Team not only serves as a ‘functional area proponent’ for several areas that are included in the monitoring process – but also provides training and technical assistance, and facilitates the unit and division level reporting processes.
- Regional Level – Bridging the gap between policy and performance, the Regional Monitoring & Standards Coordinators support the units and facilitate compliance with standards covering 30 functional areas.
A three-year cycle of external auditing, the American Correctional Association (ACA) provides an independent assessment of agency achievement of industry standards, and federally mandated accreditation of correctional health care.
- Initial Accreditation – The process of conducting unit-level assessment, with a standards compliance audit by trained ACA consultants prior to an accreditation decision by the Board of Commissioners. Once accredited, all programs and facilities submit annual certification statements to ACA.
- Re-Accreditation – The three-year period during which the agency maintains and improves upon its compliance levels that were achieved at the time of the initial accreditation award.
- Unit Level – Unit ACA Coordinators are generally responsible for ensuring ongoing compliance with ACA standards and maintaining documentation in support of unit activity.
- Regional Level – The Monitoring & Standards Team assists TDCJ units as they enter into the initial ACA accreditation process and during the continuing re-accreditation process. Technical guidance and support are provided to ensure compliance with Agency policy, procedure and applicable ACA standards.
- Central Office – ACA Accreditation leadership networks with the national organization in scheduling and facilitating audits, and represents the Agency at ACA Board of Commissioners hearings.
- Current Status – There are currently 86 TDCJ units (state map and listing; also a link to unit profiles) accredited, as well as the Baten unit and the TDCJ Training Academy.
For more information
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Review & Standards
Keith Clendennen, Manager
P.O. Box 99
Huntsville, Texas 77342-0099
February 26, 2008
