About NCCHC

With support from 38 major national organizations representing the fields of health, law and corrections, the National Commission on Correctional Health Care is committed to improving the quality of health care in jails, prisons, and juvenile confinement facilities. In this we are aided by an exceptionally dedicated Board of Directors comprised of representatives from our supporting organizations.

NCCHC's origins date to the early 1970s, when an American Medical Association study of jails found inadequate, disorganized health services and a lack of national standards. In collaboration with other organizations, the AMA established a program that in the early 1980s became the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose early mission was to evaluate and develop policy and programs for a field clearly in need of assistance.

Today, NCCHC's leadership in setting standards for health services in correctional facilities is widely recognized. Established by the health, legal and corrections professions, NCCHC's Standards for Health Services are recommendations for the management of a correctional health services system. Written in separate volumes for prisons, jails and juvenile confinement facilities, the Standards cover the areas of care and treatment, health records, administration, personnel and medical-legal issues. The Standards have helped correctional and detention facilities improve the health of their inmates and the communities to which they return; increase the efficiency of health services delivery; strengthen organizational effectiveness; and reduce the risk of adverse legal judgments.

Building on that foundation, NCCHC offers a broad array of services and resources to help correctional health care systems provide efficient, high-quality care.

Accreditation: NCCHC has offered a voluntary health services accreditation program since the 1970s. Based on its Standards, the process uses external peer review to determine whether correctional institutions meet these standards in their provision of health services. NCCHC renders a professional judgment and assists in the improvement of services provided.
   Since 2004, NCCHC has operated an accreditation program for opioid treatment programs in correctional facilities. This accreditation enables OTPs to obtain legally required certification from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The only SAMHSA-authorized accrediting body that focuses on corrections, NCCHC has developed standards that are based on federal regulations but tailored for this field.

Educational Programs: Since its inception in 1976, the National Conference on Correctional Health Care has been the must-attend event of the year. With exceptional educational programs, abundant networking and the best exhibition in this market, this five-day Fall conference attracts thousands of dedicated professionals. Similar in format but smaller in scale, our Spring meeting, Updates in Correctional Health Care, is popular for its content-rich program and cutting-edge topics presented in a four-day format. NCCHC also offers two-day meetings that delve into important topics such as mental health care and legal issues in correctional health care.

Certification: The Certified Correctional Health Professional program recognizes the professionalism of health care providers and others, such as administrators, attorneys and  technicians, working in corrections. The highly regarded CCHP designation has been awarded to over 1,800 professionals nationwide who have demonstrated mastery of national standards and the special knowledge and skills expected of leaders in this complex and ever-changing field.

Publications and Resources: NCCHC offers the best publications in correctional health care. Our growing catalog offers essential titles such as NCCHC's Standards for Health Services and Correctional Health Care: Guidelines for the Management of an Adequate Delivery System. Two quarterlies, CorrectCare and the Journal of Correctional Health Care, are the leading periodicals in this field. We also offer reference works from other publishers, as well as free access to Clinical Guidelines, Position Statements and other resources on our Web site.

Technical Assistance: NCCHC offers customized consultation and technical assistance to assist with a variety of correctional health issues, such as preparing for accreditation, developing policies and procedures, and assessing alternative solutions to problems. Informal assistance on accreditation issues is included in a facility's accreditation fees. Fee-based technical assistance is also available.