The American Correctional Association (ACA) is one of the oldest and largest international correctional associations in the world. Founded in 1870 as the National Prison Association, it has been developed specifically for practitioners in the correctional profession. The association has more than 20,000 active members. The American Correctional Association works to shape public policy on correctional issues in manners consistent with the association s founding principles, vision statement, constitution and bylaws, and public policies and resolutions. Its government and public affairs department develops the association s position on public policy issues and represents the association before the United States Congress, federal executive agencies, state and local governments, and advocacy and interest groups in partnership with the Legislative Affairs Committee.