Corrections_Today_March_April_2020_Volume 82, Number 2

nEWS & vIEWS

From Jim’s Desk

I n this, our 150 th year of existence, the American Correctional Associa- tion has taken a step outside our 50 states. ACA always has had involvement in international professional- ism in corrections. In fact, many persons outside our nation attended our first several meetings and helped in formulating our Founding Principles. That tradition has continued throughout the life of ACA. But late last year, we received governmental

countries and I will highlight them in later articles. But Dr. Elizabeth Gondles has been the keystone to international training, standards, and accred- itation worldwide. Her work beyond Mexico has taken her to far away countries through- out the world to such places as the United Arab Emirates. Again, in future editions of this space, I will expound upon other international programs and new domestic achieve- ments. But as we celebrate our sesquicentennial birth, we can be proud that through our 150 th year of association life, we have been influenced and inclusive of our neighbors worldwide.

authority for “Global Correctional Association” and “Global Correc- tional Services.” You may have noticed that we have changed our traditional logo to incorporate those two entities. A copy is with this article. Nowhere have our efforts been more successful internationally than with our partners to the south,

Mexico. We even have an active chapter there called ACA-Mexico. Under our International Correctional Core Standards, we have accredited well over 100 facilities, thanks to the support of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) of the U.S. Department of State. Many individuals have contribut- ed to our efforts in Mexico and other

James A. Gondles Jr., CAE ACA Executive Director

6 — March/April 2020 Corrections Today