Western South Dakota Juvenile Services Center (WSDJSC) National Standards

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Carla Leveque, Commander
Western South Dakota
Juvenile Services Center (WSDJSC)
3505 South Highway 79
Rapid City, SD 57701

Phone: (605) 394-2639
Fax: (605) 394-5136

E-mail WSDJSC

ACA Accreditation	P.R.E.A.
Code of Ethics	Staff & Inmate Misconduct

American Correctional Association (ACA)

American Correctional Association (ACA) standards are the national benchmark for the effective operation of correctional systems throughout the United States and are necessary to ensure that correctional facilities are operated professionally. They address services, programs and operations essential to good correctional management, including administrative and fiscal controls, staff training and development, physical plant, safety and emergency procedures, sanitation, food service, and rules and discipline. Standards reflect practical, up-to-date policies and procedures that safeguard the life, health and safety of staff and offenders.

Accreditation is a system of verification that correctional agencies/facilities comply with national standards promulgated by the American Correctional Association. Accreditation is achieved through a series of reviews, evaluations, audits and hearings.

The advantages and benefits of accreditation are numerous and include (1) the assessment of a facility's strengths and weaknesses, (2) the identification of obtainable goals, (3) the implementation of state-of-the-art policies and procedures, (4) the establishment of specific guidelines for daily operations, (5) aid in the defense of frivolous lawsuits, (6) an increase of community support and (7) a higher level of staff professionalism and morale.

Standards are classified into two categories: mandatory and nonmandatory. To be awarded accreditation, applicants must comply with 100% of the applicable mandatory standards and at least 90% of applicable nonmandatory standards. However, the Commission evaluates the conditions of confinement/quality of life as well as standards compliance levels in making their decisions on awarding accreditation.

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Code of Ethics

Through our professional relationships with the American Correctional Association and the National Juvenile Detention Association, the Juvenile Services Center subscribes to a Code of Ethics. These ethics are described both by the ACA and the NJDA.

ACA Code of Ethics

Preamble - The American Correctional Association expects of its members unfailing honesty, respect for the dignity and individuality of human beings and a commitment to professional and compassionate service. To this end, we subscribe to the following principles.

Members shall respect and protect the civil and legal rights of all individuals.
Members shall treat every professional situation with concern for the welfare of the individuals involved and with no intent to personal gain.
Members shall maintain relationships with colleagues to promote mutual respect within the profession and improve the quality of service.
Members shall make public criticism of their colleagues or their agencies only when warranted, verifiable, and constructive.
Members shall respect the importance of all disciplines within the criminal justice system and work to improve cooperation with each segment.
Members shall honor the public's right to information and share information with the public to the extent permitted by law subject to individuals' right to privacy.
Members shall respect and protect the right of the public to be safeguarded from criminal activity.
Members shall refrain from using their positions to secure personal privileges or advantages.
Members shall refrain from allowing personal interest to impair objectivity in the performance of duty while acting in an official capacity.
Members shall refrain from entering into any formal or informal activity or agreement which presents a conflict of interest or is inconsistent with the conscientious performance of duties.
Members shall refrain from accepting any gifts, services, or favors that is or appears to be improper or implies an obligation inconsistent with the free and objective exercise of professional duties.
Members shall clearly differentiate between personal views/statements and views/statements/positions made on behalf of the agency or Association.
Members shall report to appropriate authorities any corrupt or unethical behaviors in which there is sufficient evidence to justify review.
Members shall refrain from discriminating against any individual because of race, gender, creed, national origin, religious affiliation, age, disability, or any other type of prohibited discrimination.
Members shall preserve the integrity of private information; they shall refrain from seeking information on individuals beyond that which is necessary to implement responsibilities and perform their duties; members shall refrain from revealing nonpublic information unless expressly authorized to do so.
Members shall make all appointments, promotions, and dismissals in accordance with established civil service rules, applicable contract agreements, and individual merit, rather than furtherance of personal interests.
Members shall respect, promote, and contribute to a work place that is safe, healthy, and free of harassment in any form.

Adopted by the Board of Governors and Delegate Assembly in August 1994.

NJDA Code of Ethics

We, the members of the NJDA, recognizing the critical role of conscience in choosing among courses of action and taking into account the moral ambiguities of life, commit ourselves to:

Demonstrate the highest standards of personal conduct.
Demonstrate the highest standards of professional conduct.
Avoid any interest or activity which is in conflict with or which produces undue personal gain through the execution of our personal duties.
Safeguard the confidentiality of detained youth.
Advocate the legal and ethical rights of youth.
Eliminate all forms of unethical and illegal behavior.
Maintain and optimum level of physical conditioning and mental alertness.

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P.R.E.A.

The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA, P.L. 108-79) was enacted by Congress to address the problem of sexual abuse of persons in the custody of U.S. correctional agencies. Major provisions of PREA include:

Develop standards for detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of prison rape.
Collect and disseminate information on the incidence of prison rape.
Award grant funds to help state and local governments implement the purposes of the Act.

The Act applies to all public and private institutions that house adult or juvenile offenders and is also relevant to community-based agencies. For more information on the Prison Rape Elimination Act, go to the National Institute of Corrections website.

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Staff & Detainee Misconduct

The WSDJSC maintains a zero-tolerance policy for staff misconduct with detainees. The zero-tolerance policy applies to staff, contractors, volunteers, detainees and visitors. It is the policy of the WSDJSC to prohibit conduct that would create a hostile work environment or sexualized work environment. It is also the policy of the WSDJSC to prohibit any acts or behaviors of sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment or sexual misconduct as defined in this policy.

Detainees may report allegations of misconduct using any of the following methods:

Completion of Detainee Grievance Form.
Write a letter to the Commander, Sheriff or any law enforcement agency.
Report the allegation to any JSC staff member.

Members of the public may report allegations of misconduct by any of the following:

Write a letter, phone, or e-mail any law enforcement agency
E-mail WSDJSC Commander
Telephone the WSDJSC Commander at (605)394-2639
Write a letter to:

WSDJSC Commander
3505 South Highway 79
Rapid City, SD 57701

Pennington County Sheriff
300 Kansas City Street
Rapid City, SD 57701

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