The Choice Moore Unit has successfully completed its third national accreditation from the American Correctional Association (ACA). On Friday, July 29, the announcement was made by a team of auditors from ACA that the Choice Moore Unit had completed its third audit and will be recommended to retain its full accreditation certification. We are proud to report that the Buster Cole Unit also completed its ACA reaccreditation in an equally outstanding manner.
The American Correctional Association is a national non-profit corrections organization that administers the only national accreditation program for local, state and federal correctional facilities. ACA is located in Lanham Maryland, and audits correctional facilities across the nation. The purpose of the ACA is, “to bring about standardization of correctional practices and procedures in penal institutions throughout the nation.”
The Choice Moore Unit was first accredited by ACA in November 1999. Units are then required to be reaccredited every three years. Our first reaccreditation was September 2002. This was our third time to prove ourselves and we have improved each time. Our score this time was 98.8, the auditors said that the only deficiencies noted where beyond our control; such as Agency policy or where the facility design did not meet ACA standards.
Choice Moore’s and Buster Cole’s exceptional success are the result of hard and dedicated work from all of our outstanding officers and employees. This is true from our newest assigned correctional officers or administrative clerks to all departmental and shift supervisors. While it would be impossible to give credit to all those individuals the senior staff; Senior Warden Kenneth Karl, Assistant Warden Kay Sheeley, Major Joseph Moore attempted. They treated all officers and employees to a hamburger “luncheon” in appreciation of a job well done.
Choice Moore’s ACA reaccreditation process begin with Officers Carol Hammack and Ruby Pollard as they put together “folders” documenting the ACA Standards. The documentation proving the standards was forwarded from each shift and department. Warden Kay Sheeley reviewed every folder twice for standardization and completeness. Warden Karl then reviewed the final product and signed every folder attesting to the Unit’s compliance with these high national standards.
The closing ceremony was an honor not only to the unit, its officers and employees, but to the local community. The citizens of Fannin County and its leaders have long been supporters of the Choice Moore and Buster Cole facilities, and this week of ACA reaccreditation was no exception. The community’s attendance and involvement were very positively cited by the ACA auditors. Community leaders in attendance included: Roy Floyd - City of Bonham Mayor, Tom Turner - Fannin County Special, Sandy Barber - Fannin County Children Center, Richard Glaser - County & District Attorney, Warren Jamieson - Bonham State Bank, Troy Seller - TXU, and Darrell Hall - Fannin County Judge.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) was also well represented by Nathan Quarterman - Deputy Director of Prisons / Jail Management, and Region II Director, William Stephens, and Assistant Directors P.W. Pace and Rhoda Odom were just some of the dignitaries on hand for the ceremony. Their support and direct involvement shows the effort and leadership Texas Department of Criminal Justice is willing to commit in order to have the most up to date correctional facilities in the nation.
