The American Correctional Association (ACA), is an international governing body dedicated to the advancement and professional development of the corrections sector. To fulfill this mission, the ACA hosts two major bi-annual events: the Winter Conference and the Congress of Correction in the summer, which serve as the premier gatherings for justice professionals. These conferences bring together over 3,000 diverse attendees, spanning county jail superintendents, state and federal prison wardens, probation and parole officers, healthcare staff, and industry researchers, alongside private technology and security vendors.
The central purpose of these events is to drive institutional improvement and policy development through high-stakes accreditation panel hearings, professional certification training, and dozens of specialized educational workshops tackling critical topics like inmate mental health, rehabilitation, and safety protocols. Beyond professional development, attendees engage in massive exhibit halls showcasing the latest advancements in correctional infrastructure and communications technology, making the conferences an essential hub for operational networking and the modern evolution of criminal justice standards.
NIC Workshops at ACA
Conducting Security Audits
Workshop |
Moderator: Evelyn Bush, NPA, Prisons Division
What will you learn?Discover how to transform your facility's safety culture in this concise overview of the Conducting Security Audits training program. Designed for supervisors, operations leaders, and compliance staff, this session introduces the standardized protocols, policy assessments, and intensive internal control testing utilized by the NIC to identify critical institutional vulnerabilities before they escalate. By highlighting decades of real-world application, we will explore the tangible benefits of the program—including how agencies have successfully built a dedicated cadre of internal auditors to dramatically reduce instances of violence, contraband influx, and escapes. Attendees will gain insight into the program’s immersion methodology—which deploys collaborative six-person teams to conduct live, nonjudgmental risk assessments across active facilities—and examine long-term success metrics from agencies that have achieved sustained compliance, enhanced staff accountability, and safer operational environments nationwide.
