ADULT PROBATION DEPARTMENT

AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION

ACCREDITATION

Accreditation is a voluntary process in which the Adult Probation Department participates to demonstrate compliance with probation standards established by the American Correctional Association (ACA). The Circuit Court of Cook County Adult Probation Department, which became accredited in 1990, is the largest accredited probation agency in the United States.
 
As an accredited agency, the department is subject to reaccreditation audits every three years. During the reaccreditation process, ACA auditors review department policies and practices to determine compliance with 174 standards. The standards cover several areas of operations including caseload management, training, administration, presentence investigations, finance, research and citizen involvement. In addition to reviewing documentation, the auditors visit facilities and interview staff members and probationers.
 
In order to remain accredited, the department must comply with 100 percent of the mandatory standards and 90 percent of the non-mandatory standards. Any non-mandatory standards found to be in noncompliance must have an action plan that demonstrates how the department will come into compliance with that standard.
 
In March 2022, the department was found to be in 100 percent compliance. This is the third consecutive reaccreditation audit where the department received 100 percent compliance. The next reaccreditation audit is scheduled for November 2025 for the period of November 2022 through November 2025.