Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office’s two correctional facilities are in line for accreditation by the American Correctional Association (ACA) following an assessment of the programs and facilities this week. The Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex is in line for its initial accreditation, while the Transitional Work Program is seeking re-accreditation. The final decision will be made following a formal hearing at the ACA’s Winter Conference in February 2021.
“This is a great day for Lafourche Parish,” said Sheriff Webre. “Our citizens can rest assured that yet another aspect of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff Office is being administered at the highest standards possible. We relish this moment as another step forward toward a brighter future in Lafourche Parish.”
The Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex was found to be in compliance with 100% of mandatory standards and all applicable voluntary standards. Meanwhile, the Transitional Work program was also found to be in 100% compliance with mandatory standards. Of the applicable voluntary standards, the program was found to be in 99.5% compliance, having met 196 out of 197 standards. The only standard that was unable to be met was having natural light in the inmates’ sleeping areas.
Robbin Bell (Michigan) and Fred Schoonover (Marksville, La.) served as auditors along with ACA Audit chairman David Eberhard (Arkansas). During the exit interview on Friday, Eberhard said, “In my history of performing audits around the country, I’ve never seen two programs so aligned in their mission of doing whatever it takes to rehabilitate those in a correctional environment.”
Lafourche Parish becomes only the second parish in Louisiana to have its parish-operated facilities accredited by the ACA. Lafayette Parish is the other with accreditations for its Correctional Center and Transitional Work Program.
“I’m at a loss for words to express my genuine appreciation and admiration for the efforts of our correctional staff at both facilities,” said Sheriff Webre. “Now, those efforts have been validated by the ACA. The results of these audits represent the commitment to excellence of our agency, and we look forward to a final decision on accreditation in February.”
