CAC membership task force tackles pertinent issues during two-day session.

Editor's Note: This article is reprinted from the ACA Standards and Accreditation Newsletter.

The Commission on Accreditation for Corrections (CAC) Membership Task Force, held its second meeting in Atlanta, Ga. During the two-day session, the task force reviewed input provided by several interested organizations during the open meeting held by the group in Nashville, Tenn., in August 1993 and discovered several previously determined basic issues that were individually presented by members of the group.

The first issue addressed the size and composition of the Commission. After extensive discussion, the task force agreed that the size and composition of the Commission is currently optimized. That is, 20 commissioners is the correct number, and the mix of elected and appointed members does not need changing. However, there should be a requirement that all new commissioners undergo a cross-training/orientation session and a requirement that all commissioners participate in an audit as an observer.

The second discussion concerned the criteria for election or appointment. It was felt that the present criteria for elected positions need no changes. However, there were several recommended criteria for appointed positions that include: five years experience in the area of appointment, an interest and knowledge in the corrections field, a positive interest in the standards and accreditation process and a willingness to be cross-trained and knowledgeable in all corrections disciplines. There also is a desire to obtain, for the record, the selection criteria used by each non-corrections association represented on the Commission.

The third discussion centered around problems associated with getting various groups/organizations to participate in the election process and put forth viable candidates for election or appointment. Although there is no easy answer to this long standing problem, the committee agreed that the Commission could encourage participation by having staff notify all affiliate organizations of upcoming elections and provide additional special notification to those organizations in whose specialty there is a vacancy to be filled.

The fourth issue dealt with terms of office. Two facets were addressed. First, the length of the term was explored, and the task force is recommending that service on the Commission be one six-year term with re-election possible after a six-year period. The second part of the discussion addressed the status of a commissioner who changes jobs, i.e., category of work, while serving on the Commission. The recommendation here is that a commissioner who ceases to work in the category in which he/she was elected should submit a resignation to the chairperson. The chairperson and the executive committee will then consider the specific circumstances and make a decision on the appropriate course of action.

The fifth and final topic discussed was the need for a standing ethics committee. The task force agreed that there is a need for such a body, but that much additional study was required before a formal recommendation can be made. A sub-committee was formed to prepare a proposal to be presented to the task force early this year.

The recommendations of the task force have been finalized, and a report was forwarded to the full Commission.

Ron Jackson is a policy analyst with the Office of Planning & Budget, Office of the Governor in Atlanta, Ga.