Jail achieves prestigious Tier 1 Accreditation from TCI

The White County Jail has reached a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to excellence and public safety by earning the coveted Tier 1 Certification from the Tennessee Corrections Institute. This achievement is a testament to the facility’s dedication to exceeding state standards through innovative programs focused on inmate rehabilitation and effective facility operations.

Tier 1 Certification is a voluntary accreditation that signifies a correctional facility’s commitment to implementing enhanced standards beyond basic inspection requirements. These standards prioritize evidence-based initiatives aimed at reducing recidivism—the tendency of formerly incarcerated individuals to reoffend—and supporting successful reintegration into the community.

To earn this certification, the White County Jail successfully met five mandatory standards and at least 17 of 20 optional standards set by TCI. These standards encompass vital areas such as adult education, employment skills training, and behavioral therapy programs—all designed to address the underlying causes of criminal behavior and improve outcomes for inmates.

Sheriff Steve Page, Jail Administrator Kevin Benton, and Facility Compliance Officer Lt. Ashley Edwards accepted the certification, on June 4, 2025, from representatives of TCI and the TCI Board of Control.

“This certification is a testament to our staff’s dedication and the positive di-rection in which we are heading,” Sheriff Page said and emphasized that he was just an assistant in the process of gaining the accreditation. “This came because of the work our staff here at the jail does. The work they put in daily. I was here to help in any way they needed me, but the jail staff are the ones who made this happen.”

The White County Sheriff’s Office has consistently demonstrated excellence under Page’s guidance, passing annual TCI inspections without any deficiencies for the past six years since he became sheriff. 

“When I first took this office, I asked the TCI to give me a year to fix the mess that the White County Jail was in,” Page said, referencing the fact that the jail was under a state Plan of Action due to a lack of policies and overcrowding among other things. “That’s what we’ve done. Together. I couldn’t ask for a better staff than what we have working here.”

This accomplishment places the White County Jail among the elite correctional facilities in Tennessee that voluntarily pursue higher standards to better serve inmates and the community at large.  The Tier I accreditation will bring in more money for the jail as well, allowing them to continue improving the facility and stay in compliance. The jail will now receive an additional $3 per day for state inmates housed in White County. More importantly, being accredited as a Tier I facility will open new grant opportunities and the possibility of applying for federal funding, all of which can be used to continue to update the facility.

Under TCI, there is only one additional level of accreditation possible for jails across the state. However, Page said that it would not be possible for White County to apply for Tier II at this time. The White County sheriff said the money for the additional staff needed, including 24/7 onsite medical staff, just isn’t available.

“I’m not saying that sometime in the future that couldn’t happen,” he said, “but for now we are exceptionally proud of the work that has been done to earn this Tier I accreditation and will continue to provide the best care possible to the inmates here and help them in their rehabilitation process. We will continue to strive to improve for them.”