Audit Process

Important information regarding the PREA audit process

The Department of Justice will certify qualified individuals to conduct PREA audits.  In order to conduct a PREA audit, individuals must possess a Department of Justice PREA auditor certification. PREA auditors will utilize the PREA audit instrument(s) to conduct PREA audits.

The Department of Justice and the PREA Resource Center will not be involved with the contracting, scheduling, or fee schedules associated with PREA audits.

Certified PREA auditors will perform the PREA audits as an independent contractor unless they have or create an arrangement to conduct audits through another entity, such as their current employer, an external governmental entity, the American Correctional Association (ACA), or other accreditation body.

The PREA audit will be performed pursuant to a contractual or similar agreement between a Certified PREA Auditor and the agency requesting an audit. This agreement should address all aspects of the audit, including scheduling and all fees, costs, and expenses associated with the work performed. 

Unaffiliated PREA auditors should consider whether or not professional liability insurance is appropriate.

Time needed to conduct a PREA audit will vary based on a variety of factors including facility size, agency readiness, and record keeping. PREA auditors should anticipate that an audit of a medium-sized facility will take at least five working days, including approximately three days of work at the facility touring the physical plant; interviewing staff, contractors, and volunteers; interviewing inmates/detainees/residents; and reviewing facility records.

Facilities will be required to post a notice of the audit in each housing unit of the facility to be audited. This notice should be in place six weeks prior to the audit, and must include an address at which the auditor can receive confidential correspondence prior to the onsite audit activities and through the issuance of the final report. This address can be a P.O. Box.

If the PREA auditor determines that the facility “Does not meet standard” with respect to any standard provision, the auditor and the agency will jointly develop a corrective action plan. Within 180 days, the auditor is required to verify implementation of the corrective action plan, issue a final determination, and complete a final PREA audit report. If no corrective action plan is required, the auditor will provide a final report at the end of the PREA audit.  Agencies are required to post their PREA Audit Final Reports on their agency web site.