AUGUSTA — The Maine State Prison (MSP) and the Bolduc Correctional Facility (BCF) have passed the American Correctional Association’s (ACA) reaccreditation audit, both with scores of 100%.

To retain accreditation by the ACA these facilities were able to demonstrate successful adherence to a set of 62 applicable mandatory standards and 465 non-mandatory applicable standards.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Russell Worcester, director of Bolduc Correctional Facility, in a news release. “Staff are committed to doing their best each day, it’s nice to see their dedication to quality reflected with a 100% compliance of standards.”

Standards are determined by the ACA, a professional organization that is seen as the world-wide leader in the development of policy and standards of correctional organizations, according to the release. During the audit, long tenured correctional professionals from ACA member organizations across the country came to Maine for onsite facility reviews.

Over the course of five-days auditors spent time carefully reviewing the two facilities’ safety, security, order, care, programming, justice and management practices.

During the closing remarks, Audit Chair Bonnie O’Brien, a retired Corrections professional from New York commented to the crowd, “you worked together to earn this.”

Her follow auditor, Renee Watkins from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections added, “you can tell that staff support one another, you can tell that inmates get that. Your inmates have opportunities to better themselves while incarcerated.”

Audits are conducted by the ACA every three years. In addition to demonstrating that correctional agencies are complying with standards, the audit process highlights the professionalism and dedication of correctional staff.

“Days like this tell the story of how great it is to work at the Department of Corrections: we come together, we support one another, we exceeded expectations, and we do it all for the mission of reducing the likelihood of re-
offense”, said MSP Warden Matt Magnusson.

The Maine State Prison has a current population of 955. The Bolduc Correctional Facility has a population of 224.

Both facilities are in Warren.