The National Correctional Industries Association (NCIA) is an international nonprofit professional association, whose mission is to promote excellence and credibility in correctional industries through professional development and innovative business solutions. The NCIA is an affiliate body of the American Correctional Association and The Workman Fund.

NCIA's members include all 50 state correctional industry agencies, Federal Prison Industries, foreign correctional industry agencies and numerous city and county jail industry programs. Local jurisdictions are assigned to one of five regions to promote continuous interaction and the promulgation of the mission of the organization within the region. Private sector companies that work in partnership with correctional industries both as suppliers/vendors and as partners in apprenticeship and work programs are among NCIA's members.

Correctional industries are the work programs in correctional facilities that provide real world work experience to inmates, teaching them transferable job skills and work ethic to help them prepare for reentry and employment. They are the only self-funded reentry support program in corrections - no appropriated funds are required for their operation since they rely on revolving funds from the income generated by the sale of the products and services they produce through the program.

NCIA was founded in 1941 as the Penal Industries Association (PIA), an affiliate of the American Prison Association (APA). In 1954, when the APA adopted the name, "American Correctional Association (ACA)," the PIA changed its name accordingly to Correctional Industries Association (CIA). In January 2002, the Board of Directors voted to change the name to that currently in use today. Property and affairs are managed by a National Office with oversight by a board of directors duly elected by the association membership. Business and board meetings of the association are open to all members.

The National Correctional Industries Association encourages networking and joint ventures among correctional industries that foster an affirmative spirit of cooperation, including affording one another professional courtesies with regard to interstate activities.


Click here to view NCIA's Business Development Initiative Announcement