Contains 421 standards covering 32 program areas including personnel, training, safety, sanitation, security, health care, and supervision.

This set of standards, especially applicable to small jails, was developed after rigorous field tests by the American Correctional Association in conjunction with the National Institute of Corrections, American Jail Association, National Sheriffs¿ Association, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Standards cover areas of safety, security, administration, and care including health care, programs and activities. Complying with this set of standards offers a method to achieve certification from the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections.

This book -- the Fifth Edition -- includes expected practices covering the critical program areas for effective institutional management, safety procedures, security, rules and discipline, staff development, physical plant and health care services.

NCCHC's Mental Health Standards parallel its Standards for Health Services in format and substance, and likewise cover the general areas of care and treatment, clinical records, administration, personnel and legal issues. The difference is that they make more explicit what the standards require for adequate delivery of mental health services. Together, these tools can help facilities determine proper levels of care, organize systems more effectively and efficiently, and demonstrate that constitutional requirements are being met.