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Cayuga County jail wins statewide corrections accreditation, sheriff and association say
Summary
The Cayuga County Sheriff’s Corrections Division received accreditation from the New York State Sheriffs’ Association at the Jan. 15 Cayuga County Legislature meeting; officials said the facility met or exceeded 166 standards and the county will undergo reaccreditation every five years.
The Cayuga County Sheriff’s Corrections Division received formal accreditation from the New York State Sheriffs’ Association during the Cayuga County Legislature meeting on Jan. 15, county officials said. The accreditation plaque was presented by Peter Keogh, executive director of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association.
The certification recognizes that an outside board of corrections experts reviewed the jail against a set of 166 standards and found the facility “meets and in most cases exceeds every one of those demanding standards,” Keogh said, noting that only 33 of the state’s 62 counties have achieved jail accreditation.
"Corrections officers are, to my mind, the unsung heroes of the law enforcement system," Keogh told the legislature. "They spend a large part of their lives locked up behind bars with some of the most dangerous people in our society ... and they must always remember that both the innocent and the guilty are entitled to safe, humane and respectful treatment." Keogh described accreditation as a process that tends to improve operations, reduce liability and increase public confidence.
Sheriff Schenk said the recognition reflected long-term work by jail staff and county partners. "This is another example of just incredible work being done by a lot of great people within our county government," Schenk said, and he specifically thanked Captain John Mack, Sergeant Stanley Solman, Chief Deputy Rich Flanagan and Under Sheriff Pienstra for their roles in preparing for the review.
During a brief question-and-answer period, a legislator asked whether accreditation must be renewed; an official answered that reaccreditation takes place every five years.
Chair Jim Anna and several legislators offered public congratulations at the meeting. A plaque recognizing the accreditation was presented to Sheriff Schenk at the meeting.
The accreditation covers operational and administrative standards the association applies to county jails; the sheriff and association representatives said they expect the process to yield operational improvements and to reduce the county’s liability exposure.
No formal legislative action was required to accept the plaque at the meeting.
