Corrections_Today_Winter_2025-2026_Vol.87_No.4

EXECUTIVE OFFICE

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PAST PRESIDENT’S CORNER

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Past President’s Corner Dr. Lannette Linthicum ACA’s 105 th President and Vice-Chair of the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections

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About Dr. Lannette Linthicum Dr. Lannette Linthicum is the Director of Health Services for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), where she has served since 1986. A Baltimore native, she attended Phillips Ex eter Academy, earned a degree in French and biochemistry from Smith College, and completed her medical degree at the University of Maryland. Initially assigned to TDCJ through the U.S. Public Health Service, she transformed correctional health care during a critical reform era. Linthicum became the first physician elected president of the American Correctional Association in 2017.

The evolution and importance of ACA accreditation standards in U.S. correctional facilities

By Dr. Lannette Linthicum T hroughout my decades of ser vice in the field of correctional healthcare and administration, I have remained deeply committed to the principles of professionalism, accountability, and continuous im provement in our nation’s correctional systems. As the 105 th President of

the American Correctional Associa tion (ACA) and Vice-Chair of the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections (CAC), I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of ACA accreditation. More than a symbol of compli ance, accreditation represents a

steadfast commitment to opera tional excellence and the highest standards in safety, security, and humane treatment. In this article, I explore the evolution of ACA standards and why accreditation remains essential to responsible cor rectional leadership today.

Corrections Today | Winter 2025-2026

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