mh/cgk/standard.pr            Contact: Claire Gunster-Kirby,301-217-7556

COUNTY DETENTION AND PRE-RELEASE
CENTERS EARN AWARDS FOR STANDARDS
COMPLIANCE                         For Immediate Release:  May 21, 1996


     Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and Department of
Correction and Rehabilitation Director Devon Brown, today were presented with
two awards for the County's Detention and Pre-Release centers by State and
national correctional officials for standards compliance.  
     The Recognition of Achievement Award, presented by Executive Director
Donald Jones and Chairperson Marie C. Henderson of the Maryland Commission on
Correctional Standards, was for 100 percent compliance by the Detention Center 
with Maryland correctional standards.
     The Accreditation Award, presented by William L. Smith of the American
Correctional Association's Commission on Accreditation for Corrections (ACA),
was awarded for the Pre-Release Center's success in meeting national standards
for sanitation, security, medical care and other programs and services as an
adult community correctional facility.
     "I'm delighted to accept these awards on behalf of all the employees in
the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation," said Duncan.  "Under the
careful watch of Director Devon Brown, I believe our correctional facilities
are among the very best in the nation.  The fact that both the Detention
Center and the Pre-Release Center have maintained continuous state and 
national accreditation for more than 15 years is a tribute to the staff who 
manage the day-to-day operations."
                                  -more-

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES RECEIVES STANDARDS AWARDS           2-2-2-2
     In his report to the County, Jones noted that the Detention Center
continues to be "well-managed and operated by highly motivated and competent
personnel." Henderson added, "In times of fiscal austerity, increased
litigation and system overload, it is even more important that adult
correctional facilities use sound correctional management principals, as
reflected in Maryland's standards.  We are pleased to note that the Montgomery
County Detention Center has shown a high degree of efficiency and
effectiveness for which all those directly or indirectly involved should feel
a sense of pride and accomplishment."
     In addition to achieving 100 percent compliance with mandatory
standards, the Pre-Release Center also obtained a score of 99.4 percent on
non-mandatory standards.  It is the sixth ACA accreditation that the center
has received. 
     "The Pre-Release Center has excellent programming available to its
residents, including life skills training, employment assistance, counseling,
and seminars on parenting and domestic violence," said Smith.    
     "The performance of each staff member is crucial to the successful
operation of each institution and to the overall department," said Brown.  "My
congratulations go to the entire staff for these awards and for their efforts 
each and every day."
     The compliance effort was coordinated with the accreditation agencies by
Detention Center staffers Mary Jones-Brown, Captain Guy Ruffner, Lieutenant
Derrick Gilliam and Master Correctional Officer Greg Green.  From the Pre-
Release Center, Debra Lyons-Prince, John Blake, Jim Shannon, Jane Sachs,
Stephanie Cash-Jenkins, Paul Hadeed and Hillel Raskas assisted with the
process.                      # # #     

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