Each year, governors have an opportunity to certify compliance with the PREA Standards for all facilities under their operational control. Pursuant to Standard 115.501(a), audits are one important piece of evidence that governors must consider when making a certification determination, but they are not the only piece of evidence that governors may rely on. Neither the PREA statute nor the Standards restrict the sources of information that governors may use in deciding whether to certify full compliance with the Standards. Thus, if a state has PREA audits that found full compliance but the governor is in possession of information that contradicts full compliance in those facilities, that information may impact the governor’s ability to certify full compliance with the PREA Standards. Additional information can be found in the FAQ issued by the DOJ PREA Working Group.
For more information about the Governor’s certification, refer to the Governor's Certification page on the PRC website, visit the Bureau of Justice Assistance PREA page, or contact the PREA Management Office by email at [email protected].