Recently, members of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Detention Bureau appeared before a panel with the American Correctional Association (ACA) reviewing the results of an on-site audit conducted in October 2025.
The comprehensive audit included a full tour of the El Paso County Jail and an evaluation of conditions of confinement, sanitation, fire safety, food service, medical and mental health care, recreation opportunities, religious programming, offender work programs, academic and vocational education, social services, visitation, library services, laundry operations, and the mailroom. The ACA audit team reviewed records, interviewed El Paso County Sheriff’s Office personnel, and examined outcome measures across all areas of the Detention Bureau.
As a result of the audit, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Detention Bureau was awarded ACA accreditation for the 2026–2029 accreditation cycle.
“Earning ACA accreditation for the 2026–2029 cycle is a direct reflection of the professionalism, dedication, and integrity of the men and women who serve in our Detention Bureau every day,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “I want to thank our sworn and professional staff, especially our Detention Support Division and Accreditation Team, for their tireless work, attention to detail, and commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and compassionate environment for everyone in our care.
“I also extend my sincere appreciation to the members of the ACA audit panel for their thorough, objective, and professional evaluation of our operations. The accreditation process is rigorous by design, and their work helps ensure accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement across all functional areas of corrections. This achievement reinforces our Office’s commitment to meeting nationally recognized standards while upholding the safety, dignity, and well-being of both our staff and those housed in our facility.”
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office first became ACA-accredited under Sheriff Bernard Barry in 1983.
History of Standards & Accreditation
Efforts to establish correctional standards began in 1870 at the Congress on Penitentiary and Reformatory Discipline, led by Enoch Cobb Wines, which later formed the National Prison Association. While prison standards emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, no system existed to verify compliance. During the 1960s, increased judicial scrutiny of prison conditions and a Ford Foundation grant prompted the American Correctional Association (ACA) to develop national correctional standards grounded in realistic, best-practice operations.
In 1974, the American Correctional Association was established to evaluate compliance with these standards. ACA standards form the foundation of the accreditation process, defining policies and procedures which protect the safety, health, and welfare of staff and individuals housed in correctional facilities.
ACA Standards and Accreditation
Today, ACA publishes more than 29 accreditation manuals covering adult, juvenile, and community corrections, training academies, industry programs, and administrative operations. Standards are regularly reviewed and updated through a performance-based process involving field input and committee approval.
ACA accreditation promotes safe, secure, and effective correctional operations across all functional areas, including security, inmate care, programs, and administration. ACA staff guide agencies through the accreditation process—from preparation and audit through final review by the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections—supporting continuous improvement and accountability.