Lake County Gazette

A professional level of jail operations and successful completion of the accreditation process have led to Lake County Jail receiving the National Accreditation for Corrections from the American Correctional Association (ACA) for the fourth consecutive time.

“As I’ve said many times, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office makes it a top priority to treat jail inmates humanely, fairly and with respect while in custody at the Lake County Jail,” Sheriff Mark Curran said. “I’m proud of our corrections staff for their continued diligent efforts and being awarded the ACA accreditation.”

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the ACA accreditation process is a stringent audit of different aspects of the jail facilities, including health care, security operations and other functions that are essential to  correctional management. The accreditation is only bestowed to those who have undergone a satisfactory completion of a laborious self-evaluation, then passed an outside review by auditors.

“We’ve been continually making improvements at the Lake County Jail,” Undersheriff Ray Rose said. “Earlier this year, the jail passed an inspection in all categories by the Illinois Department of Corrections. We are raising the bar, continuing to make progressive changes in the way business is conducted, and the ACA accreditation is another outside validation of the Lake County Jail’s positive, progressive direction.”

The ACA considered more than 350 standards currently implemented at the Lake County Jail and ultimately found the facility to be within accreditation standards.

“We at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will continue showing our high level of respect and commitment to those under our care at the jail,” David Wathen, the Sheriff's Offices' chief of corrections, said.

The ACA accreditation certificate is valid for three years.