The American Jail Association (AJA) is a national, nonprofit organization that exists to support those who work in and operate our nation's jails and is the only national association that focuses exclusively on issues specific to the operations of local correctional facilities.

The governing body of the Association is the Board of Directors. The Board is the final authority on all matters pertaining to the management of the Association. It sets policies for the Association and relies upon elected officers, staff, and committees to implement or to develop plans to implement those policies. The Board is ultimately accountable to the membership of the Association.

The Executive Director is the Chief Operation Officer of the Association. He has the authority to manage the business affairs of the Association and to carry out policy as established by the Board of Directors.

The real driving force behind the phenomenal growth of the Association is its members. Their willingness to contribute articles to our award-winning magazine American Jails and to participate in training programs at our Annual Training Conference is unparalleled. AJA has taken a leadership role in developing the type of programs that promote the professional growth of the dedicated men and women who operate our nation's jails.

The AJA logo represents justice, knowledge, and truth in jail operations. These symbols, configured inside the outline of a U.S. map, denote AJA's concern for age-old standards: the scales of justice, the lighted candle which symbolizes the quest for knowledge, and the flaming torch of truth which dispels the darkness of ignorance. Jail staff and their leaders have always been obligated to do what is right and to act on the basis of knowledge and to continue to seek the truth through hard work and continual study.

AJA is known by the record it makes as an Association and on this basis a judgment is rendered. AJA can only exemplify the commitment of its membership and the dedication of its staff and governing body and can never aspire to the lofty goals pictured in its logo without each person making a personal decision to strive toward these high ideals.

Personal sacrifice is necessary to reach worthy ends. It is no accident that the AJA Board of Directors adopted an AJA Code of Ethics against which each individual in this army of American jail personnel can measure personal performance.

Jail staff have the responsibility for the management of people who violate our laws and often mock the ideals on which AJA was founded. Jail personnel find themselves sorely tested each day in the jail environment when they receive scorn and derision for their loyalty and perseverance under extremely trying circumstances.

AJA takes this opportunity to salute the jail staff of the nation who, by their dedication to the difficult task of local corrections, have made a vital, positive difference to the welfare of the communities they serve. AJA will continue its steadfast support of the jail personnel who work in these community agencies by producing programs and information to further the professional growth of jail staff.

Through its publications, technical assistance, Certified Jail Manager (CJM) program, on-site and regional training seminars, and the Annual Training Conference and Jail Expo, AJA lives up to its role as a leader in the field of American jails. The AJA Board of Directors and staff vow to continue to perform at the highest level in their tasks of dissemination of knowledge and information to jail personnel, the criminal justice community, and the population of all communities which operate jails.

The American Jail Association asks every individual to recognize the American jail for what it is: a vital community agency which renders superb service to the public 24 hours a day - 7 days a week! Jail staff, we commend you for the job that you do!