Support for Custody Leaders – National Commission on Correctional Health Care

Support for Custody Leaders

NCCHC is the nation’s leading authority on health and mental health care in correctional settings, working to improve care in jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities. Through nationally recognized standards and a rigorous accreditation process, NCCHC promotes care that is clinically sound, legally compliant, and operationally practical. As a custody leader, your role is essential in ensuring that health services support not only constitutional and clinical mandates but also the overall safety of staff, incarcerated individuals, and the facility as a whole.

Our Mission

NCCHC’s mission is to improve the quality and consistency of health care in correctional facilities. We do this through:

  • Development of nationally recognized correctional health care standards
  • Accreditation
  • Professional certification
  • Education
  • Consulting and technical assistance services

ncchc sTANDARDS

The Foundation of Correctional Health Care

NCCHC’s comprehensive correctional health care standards ensure evidence-based, constitutionally acceptable medical care. The five standards manuals include:

These standards shape facility policies, procedures, and workflows, helping to reduce legal risk and improve patient outcomes.

More key resources:

Jail Guidelines for the Medical Treatment of Substance Use Disorders 2025 (free download)

Suicide Prevention Resource Guide (free download)

Start with the standards

ACCREDITATION

Reduce Risk and Liability and Improve Operations

Facilities can voluntarily seek NCCHC accreditation, which involves an objective third-party review of facility processes, measuring compliance with NCCHC Standards. Accreditation is available for health services in jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities; correctional mental health programs; and opioid treatment programs in corrections.

Benefits of accreditation include:

  • Promoting safe, high-quality correctional health care
  • Reducing legal liability
  • Supporting operational improvements
  • Validating compliance with national benchmarks

A randomized study of 44 U.S. jails by Harvard researchers found that NCCHC-accredited facilities had lower mortality and reduced recidivism rates.

Improve health care operations

consulting/technical assistance

From the Experts who "Wrote the Book" on Correctional Health Care 

NCCHC Resources offers a variety of services and technical assistance for correctional health care systems throughout the country. Whether you have a crisis or wish to improve operations and reduce risk and future challenges, NCCHC Resources can help you identify roadblocks and find solutions.

Services include:

  • Health system assessments
  • Suicide prevention planning
  • Opioid treatment program development
  • RFP and contract support
  • Facility monitoring
  • Facility health space design 
see how we can help you

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION

Make Your Jail Safer

Custody leaders can improve operations and mitigate risk and liability through knowledge of NCCHC Standards, the basis of the Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP) credential.

All CCHPs can also qualify for advanced certification (CCHP-A). Specialty certification is available for clinical providers, nurses, and mental health professionals.

Certification helps elevate your career and demonstrates leadership in understanding correctional health care. 

Start Your Certification Journey

eDUCATION & PUBLICATIONS

NCCHC offers education on all elements of correctional health care, including reducing risk and liability, working with medical/mental health care, and legal and administrative issues.  View the calendar of upcoming events.

Publications:

Explore author opportunities and stay updated on the latest in correctional medicine. Visit the NCCHC Publications Library to learn more.

cAREER cENTER

Your hub for career development in correctional health care, the NCCHC Foundation Career Center offers:

  • Nationwide job listings
  • Searchable resume bank
  • Employer spotlights
  • Career resources and tools
  • Certified career coaching
POst a job or search for staff

NCCHC is your partner in training, credentialing, and quality improvement

  • Custody staff play a vital role in supporting health care that meets legal, ethical, and professional standards
  • Correctional health is public health — safety and wellness inside the facility directly impact the community outside
  • Your daily actions can prevent medical emergencies, reduce use-of-force incidents, and save lives
  • NCCHC is your ally in promoting safety, training staff, supporting collaboration, and improving overall facility operations 

Not sure where to get started? Follow the links above or set up a time to talk.