NIJO National Accreditation began in 2012 when numerous agencies began requesting an alternative to existing accreditations for correctional facilities.  Of primary concern was the lack of benefits associated with correctional accreditation bodies who utilized questionable standards and inspection processes which were subjective in nature and did not adequately recognize the differences between prisons and jails and were costly and labor intensive. NIJO National Accreditation allows a correctional administration to proactively verify its compliance with what courts have determined in operating a constitutionally safe facility.   

The process relies on NIJO Legal-Based Guidelines® promulgated by the National Institute for Jail Operations utilized by hundreds of detention facilities across the United States. Because the Guidelines are based on case law, the requirements of the accreditation process are consistent among all jails, regardless of size and structure. 

The guidelines vary from state to state according to differences in state statutes and rulings by the Circuit Court of Appeals governing the participating agency. National Accreditation through NIJO is a voluntary, proactive, ongoing process.  Agencies desiring to participate sign an accreditation intent agreement, pay a fee to cover the cost of the accreditation, conduct a self-audit of NIJO’s Legal-Based Guidelines® applicable for their state and prepare for an on-site verification inspection by trained NIJO inspectors.  

The level of Accreditation awarded is based on the percentage of compliance to NIJO’s Legal-Based Guidelines® and the on-site verification inspections.  Each year, the agency must provide the required policy along with proof of compliance.  Depending on the size of the agency, a minimum of two NIJO inspectors will conduct an onsite verification inspection during the first year of the three-year accreditation cycle. 

Proofs are required as part of the accreditation process: