2026 ACA 156th Congress of Correction Pittsburgh_Program Book

Overview: Navigating the American Correctional Association (ACA) accreditation process has traditionally been a highly complex, manual and time-consuming endeavor. To help agencies overcome these challenges, the ACA has partnered with PowerDMS to introduce the official ACA Digital Audit Instrument (powered by PowerDMS by Neogov). This approved tool allows facilities to electronically organize, link and submit all of their accreditation files, effectively replacing cumbersome paper binders. In this forward-looking session, we will explore how adopting this ACA-approved digital foundation is a crucial first step for agencies. Once your data is digitized, your facility will be positioned to leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence to revolutionize compliance management. Participants will discover how upcoming AI-driven enhancements—designed specifically for correctional and public safety professionals—will transform accreditation workflows, save significant time and reduce the manual review burden. Moderator: Catherine Price , Statewide Compliance and Accreditation Manager, Georgia Department of Corrections, McIntyre, Georgia Speakers: Abishek Murali , Group Product Manager, PowerDMS by NEOGOV, Orlando, Florida; Amy Reynolds , Senior Strategic Partnership Manager, PowerDMS by NEOGOV, Clarksville, Tennessee The Fast and the Forecasted: Structure for Intelligence Room 310 Primary Community of Focus: Data and Leadership focused Overview: Last year, the agency demonstrated how a fast and efficient recruitment process allowed hiring timelines to be reduced to 10 days. This year, the presenters take audiences behind the scenes to show the system that made that success possible. The session introduces the Forked Strategic Management Model, which connects

organizational architecture with workforce intelligence to produce clear, reliable executive visibility. The same structure and intelligence layer that supported the 10-day hiring initiative now power a full recruitment pipeline dashboard. This dashboard serves as a real-world case study that shows how aligned systems and disciplined data governance translate into practical, decision-ready insight for leadership. Participants will learn how to apply this model to strengthen workforce stability, improve reporting reliability and build sustainable strategic management capacity across their agency. Moderator: Todd Studley , Deputy Chief of Staff, Florida Department of Corrections, Tallahassee, Florida Speakers: Mica Bell , Assistant Chief of Recruitment and Retention, Florida Department of Corrections, Tallahassee, Florida; Joshua Damelio , Chief of Workforce Management Strategy, Florida Department of Corrections, Tallahassee, Florida From Incarceration to Integration: Building Community Collaborations That Create Real Second Chances Room 318 Primary Community of Focus: Reentry Overview: Successful reentry does not happen through corrections alone. Sustainable reintegration requires intentional collaboration between correctional institutions, workforce development agencies, employers, faith communities, behavioral health providers, educational partners and community organizations. This workshop explores how collaborative community-based partnerships can reduce barriers for justice-involved individuals while improving employment outcomes, stability, accountability and long-term public safety. Drawing from practical experiences within Alvis Inc.’s workforce development and reentry initiatives across Ohio, participants will learn how correctional systems and community

WORKSHOPS

Thursday, July 30 ▼ 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

ACA 156 th Congress of Correction | Pittsburgh — 93