Wyoming Department of Corrections Director Bob Lampert is presented the Lucy Webb Hayes Award by American Correctional Association President Lannette Linthicum. (Photo courtesy of ACA)

The Wyoming Department of Corrections recently became the third prison system in the country to ever be awarded the American Correctional Association’s (ACA) Lucy Webb Hayes Award.

The award recognizes agencies that demonstrate a strong commitment to public safety by making sure all areas of operation meet nationally recognized and highly regarded industry standards.

WDOC Director Bob Lampert, recently traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, to accept what has become known known as one of the most prestigious awards offered to prison systems in the U.S.

“This honor speaks volumes to the professionalism and dedication of our staff—correctional officers, wardens, field agents, teachers, support staff, and many others,” Lampert said in a statement. “They are our most important resource.”

The award, named for the ACA’s first president, Lucy Webb Hayes, recognizes correctional agencies that are compliant with the ACA’s 525 accreditation standards and with the 43 lead standards and 192 provisional requirements of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).

Of the ACA’s 525 standards, only 62 are mandatory, but agencies must be 100 percent compliant with all mandatory standards and 90 percent compliant with non-mandatory standards.

Federal law also requires correctional agencies to be 100 percent compliant with all 192 requirements outlined in PREA.

The WDOC has been fully accredited with the ACA for two, three-year terms.

In 2015, the department received the Golden Eagle award, also known as a Commitment to Excellence Award, for their initial accreditation of all facilities and programs in its jurisdiction, according to a WDOC press release.

The WDOC believes that the Lucy Webb Hayes award is but another example of why they are recognized as a “benchmark” correctional agency.