The Norfolk City Jail has received accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) for its adherence to recognized standards in correctional health services. This recognition underscores the jail’s dedication to providing quality health care for those incarcerated.
The accreditation process involved a detailed assessment conducted in March 2024 by a team of experienced physicians and correctional health experts. The evaluation focused on compliance with standards specific to jails, covering areas such as patient care, health promotion, safety, disease prevention, governance, personnel training, special needs services, and medical-legal issues.
The assessment highlighted two categories of standards: Essential Standards and Important Standards. Out of 39 essential standards, 37 applied to the Norfolk City Jail and all were fully met. Among 20 important standards, 19 were applicable with 18 meeting compliance requirements.
Sheriff Joe Baron expressed pride in this achievement, stating: “The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office Mission Statement states our commitment to providing an environment of life, health, safety, and security for those in our care and this accreditation another example of how we are accomplishing that. To achieve accreditation is a great honor and we are proud of the health care staff and jail administration staff for their hard work in obtaining this honor.”
For over four decades, NCCHC’s standards have guided correctional facilities in enhancing health outcomes for incarcerated individuals and their communities while improving service efficiency and reducing legal risks. These consensus-based guidelines are developed with input from national experts across relevant fields.
Deborah Ross, CCHP and NCCHC chief executive officer stated: “In achieving NCCHC accreditation, the Norfolk City Jail has demonstrated its commitment to quality, standards-based correctional health care. Accreditation is a voluntary process, and we commend (name of facility) for successfully undertaking this challenge. The health of incarcerated people is a vitally important component of public health.”
