Corrections_Today_November_December_2023_Vol.85_No.6

Policies

Policy Statement: ACA encourages an international staff ex change program that would: A. Provide an opportunity for correctional staff to gain insight into correctional is sues, management techniques, and best practices worldwide; B. Promote meaningful working relationships with corrections professionals in other countries; and; C. Encourage all correctional agencies to take a supportive role and participate in such programs. This Public Correctional Policy was unanimously rati fied by the American Correctional Association Delegate Assembly at the 129 th Congress of Correction in Denver, CO, on August 11, 1999. It was last reviewed and affirmed at the 153 rd Congress of Correction in Philadelphia, PA on August 13, 2023. PUBLIC CORRECTIONAL POLICY ON SUSTAIN ABILITY-ORIENTED AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE PRACTICES 2011-1 Introduction: Correctional systems and programs have the responsibility to deliver short- and long-term, cost-effective performance outcomes and resilient infrastructure through the implementation of sus tainability-oriented measures and environmentally responsible practices by mitigating impacts of energy, water, materials use, pollution, and climate effects. Policy Statement: The American Correctional Association fully supports appropriate investment strategies, programs and projects that offer economic, envi ronmental, social, and security benefits within the corrections community. This mission is achieved by reducing operating costs, increasing safety, pro viding potential sources of revenue and creating

green career opportunities for people in our com munities. Therefore, public and private agencies at the federal, state, and local levels should: A. Promote and engage in recycling and composting programs efforts that may be determined by the surrounding community resources regarding markets and services for such materials. However, each facility and program should pursue all reason able alternatives that have the effect of an overall reduction in both the waste stream and waste sent to landfills; B. Conserve energy through periodic energy use audits and cost-effective efficiency improvements in areas such as lighting, heating, cooling, transportation, and build ing construction. Agencies should pursue preventive maintenance schedules that demonstrate effective heating and cooling equipment maintenance. Agencies should demonstrate an analysis of the cost of vehicle use and related fuel consumption. Agencies should require LEED standards in all renovation and new construction; C. Conserve water through the use of cost effective, efficient water-use technologies. Agencies should seek alternatives to unlimited water use in the form of efficient plumbing fixtures such as reduced flow shower heads, waterless urinals, time-con trolled fixtures for offenders, development of drought-resistant landscaping, recycling of rainwater runoff, and similar strategies; D. Reduce pollution through the use of non toxic, non-caustic chemicals, liquids, and powders; E. Utilize cost-effective, renewable energy alternatives. Agency staff should be able to demonstrate that they have researched and sought methods of obtaining and imple menting cost-effective, renewable energy strategies. →

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