News: Press Releases

Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women to Receive ACA Accreditation

RICHMOND – Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC) Director Ron Angelone announced today that Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women (FCCW) has been recommended for accreditation with the American Correctional Association (ACA). FCCW will become the first state adult correctional institution in the Commonwealth to be recognized by ACA for compliance with national standards.
"Our vision is to be a model correctional agency and proven innovative leader in a manner consistent with sound correctional principles," said Director Angelone. "These results confirm Virginia’s national leadership role in corrections and FCCW Warden Patti Leigh Huffman and staff are to be commended for their efforts."

The ACA audit team reviewed 469 standards and found that FCCW achieved a 97.8% compliance rating. The preliminary report and recommendations will be forwarded to the ACA Commission on Accreditation for final review and approval.

The "Quality of Life" issues within a correctional facility such as work programs, education, sanitation, and staff and inmate needs is a major consideration when the Commission on Accreditation makes an award of accreditation. FCCW was evaluated as "outstanding" which is very significant as it’s the highest rating that can be achieved during an initial accreditation. An evaluation of "outstanding" is not often received during an initial accreditation.

FCCW, opened in early 1998, is the newest close custody female institution in Virginia. FCCW has a state-of-the-art medical facility and computer aided educational program.

As the oldest association developed specifically for practitioners in the correctional profession, ACA has championed the cause of corrections and correctional effectiveness for more than 125 years.