Commissioner Parker Elected ACA President-Elect
NASHVILLE – Today the American Correctional Association (ACA) announced Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Tony Parker as President-Elect of this nearly 150 year old organization. A corrections professional with more than 35 years experience, Commissioner Parker embodies his motto “research driven, frontline focused” through his commitment to using data to measure programmatic efficacy while being dedicated to the safety and security of each correctional professional. The position of President-Elect serves a two year term and later ascends to the President role for an additional two years.
According to Commissioner Parker, “Being elected President-Elect of ACA is a tremendous honor not just for me personally but for the Tennessee Department of Correction and the State of Tennessee. This election shows that TDOC is committed to utilizing evidence based practices to truly live out the mission of enhancing public safety.” He goes on to add, “Improving the criminal justice system and the correctional industry is a heavy lift that requires all parties including lawmakers, victims’ rights advocates, law enforcement, and non-profits to work together to make our communities safer. ACA has been on the forefront of those collaborations and I am excited to lend my hand to take those collaborations a step further.”
“Commissioner Parker has spent his life dedicated to serving Tennessee through the state correctional system, but he is also considered a leader in criminal justice by his peers across the country,” Gov. Bill Haslam said. “We are proud that Tony has received this honor from the American Correctional Association and we know he will represent Tennessee well as he influences policy on the national level.”
The mission of ACA is to provide a professional organization for all individuals and groups, both public and private that share a common goal of improving the justice system. ACA champions correctional effectiveness by using the latest research to set correctional standards which are then audited with fidelity. An organization with thousands of members representing correctional agencies throughout the country, ACA is committed to collaboration with various stakeholders to progress correctional effectiveness thereby positively impacting public safety.
Others in the Tennessee Department of Correction were also elected to ACA positions. Assistant Commissioner Alisha Shoates James and Deputy Commissioner Debbie Inglis will serve on the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections. Director Brenda Boyd will serve on the Delegate Assembly - Correctional Health.