Program Accreditation and Correctional Treatment

In the correctional field, treatment program accreditation requires the support of correctional administrators and program providers for successful introduction. How accreditation criteria are developed and a support structure for the process in corrections is achieved is in itself an interesting story. Her Majesty's Prison Service has, in 3.5 years, accelerated the effectiveness of correctional treatment programming, established a platform for program integrity, obtained acceptance by the institutional leadership, and increased pride and morale among prison officers. In this article we describe the development, structure, content, and benefits of correctional treatment program accreditation as it has occurred in England and Wales.