The National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) has accredited the Fresno County Jail for its compliance with standards for health services in jails.
We are one of only 250 jails across the United States to be recognized for meeting the premier standards in correctional health care.
In October 2020, the Fresno County Jail underwent a rigorous, multi-day on-site survey. An experienced physician and other experts in correctional health care inspected the facility for compliance with safety standards. This included: Personnel and training, health care services and support, patient care and treatment, health promotion, special needs and services, health records and legal issues. This survey took a detailed look at the partnership between the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and its contracted medical and behavioral health care provider, Wellpath. The findings revealed both organizations provide exceptional levels of inmate health care in terms of timeliness, accessibility and quality. The NCCHC announced the accreditation on March 5, 2021 and the recognition is valid for two years.
The Fresno County Jail is comprised of three facilities; the Main Jail, North Annex and South Annex. In total, there are nearly 3,300 bed spaces. During normal circumstances, the daily population averages 3,000 inmates of varying classifications. In addition to local detainees, the jail has approximately 800 state prisoners due to prison realignment and contracts with the U.S. Marshal’s Office to house 145 federal prisoners.
“It is a great honor to receive this accreditation, particularly given the fact it was achieved during the challenging times of the COVID pandemic. We have worked very hard in partnership with Wellpath to provide quality health care to inmates. This independent review validates our efforts and we are dedicated to continuing a high level of care,” said Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims.
“We are proud of our partnership with the fine team at the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and our combined effort to deliver the outstanding patient care that this accreditation reflects,” said Kip Hallman, President of Wellpath.
The NCCHC is one of the most highly respected groups in the industry. It has surveyed and accredited jails, prisons and juvenile detention and confinement facilities for 40 years. The NCCHC standards used in accreditation are developed with input from the nation’s experts in correctional health care.