Unity — The Sullivan County Department of Corrections received high compliance remarks in its first audit under the Prison Rape Elimination Act, a review of proceedures that is now required under federal law, the jail superintendent said.

An auditor from Kentucky came to the jail on Oct. 18 and tested staff on several standards that are designed to “prevent, detect and respond to sexual abuse in corrections settings,” according to a news release from Superintendent David Berry.

“After reviewing all pertinent information and after conducting inmate and staff interviews, the auditor found that jail leadership have clearly made PREA compliance a high priority,” Berry said in the release.

Jail officials began preparing for the audit about three years ago. They were supported by a $134,000 federal grant that went toward training and investigations, the release states.

In Fiscal Year 2016, the department investigated 12 alleged “improper” contact incidents at the Sullivan County House of Corrections, two of which were substantiated, according to a release.

In a follow-up phone interview, Berry said those two cases were “adjudicated.” He declined to comment further on those matters.

“It was a great process and if any of our staff didn’t do their job, we would have failed,” Barry said. “We pulled it off.”

Sullivan County’s next follow-up audit will take place in three years. An auditor hasn’t yet visited the Grafton County House of Corrections.

— Staff report