Pontiac, MI – Oakland County Jail has successfully maintained its national accreditation for inmate health care, officials confirmed Friday, Sept. 19. The designation recognizes that the jail continues to meet nationally accepted standards in medical care for incarcerated individuals.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the jail first received this accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) in the 1980s. Sheriff Michael Bouchard said he was notified this month that the facility again passed the evaluation.
“I am extremely proud of our correctional team and the professionalism they display every day,” Bouchard said. “This accreditation is the gold standard and a validation of their work.”
The NCCHC accreditation process requires compliance with dozens of essential and important health care standards, ranging from medical evaluations to access to nutritional diets. Captain Melissa McClellan described the review as a rigorous three-day process in which the jail achieved 100 percent compliance.
Amy Panagopoulos, vice president of accreditation for NCCHC, praised the county’s ongoing commitment, writing in a letter to Bouchard that the team “should be incredibly proud of this achievement.”
The accreditation benefits include improved inmate health, fewer lawsuits, reduced grievances, and lower risks to the community after release, according to the sheriff’s office. It also requires ongoing staff training and quality improvement measures.
The Oakland County Jail’s next accreditation cycle will begin in 2026.
