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American Jail Association

EIN 52-1245173 · Hagerstown, MD

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BANDING TOGETHER ALL THOSE CONCERNED WITH OR INTERESTED IN THE CUSTODY AND CARE OF PERSONS AWAITING TRIAL, SERVING SENTENCES, OR OTHERWISE LOCALLY CONFINED; TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS AND SYSTEMS UNDER WHICH SUCH PERSONS ARE DETAINED. ADVANCING PROFESSIONALISM IN CORRECTIONS THROUGH TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION, INFORMATION EXCHANGE, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PUBLICATIONS, AND CONFERENCES. PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, PERTINENT LEGISLATION, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES. PRESENTING AND ADVANCING THE INTERESTS, NEEDS, CONCERNS, AND PROFICIENCY OF THE PROFESSION AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE MEMBERSHIP AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
13
Volunteers
49
Highest pay
$155,658, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 96% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $832,456 spent. CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS - THE PRIMARY EXPENSES INCLUDE THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE HELD FOR THE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS OF THOSE IN THE JAIL EMPLOYMENT AREA OR THOSE ISSUES INVOLVING JAILS AND JAIL MANAGEMENT.
  2. $281,949 spent. COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING PUBLICATIONS - THE AMERICAN JAILS MAGAZINE AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS ARE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF MEMBERS. THE ARTICLES ADDRESS CURRENT ISSUES, PROBLEMS, AND AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS.
  3. $430,965 spent. MEMBER SERVICES AND SEMINARS - SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RECOGNITION INCLUDING CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING ON CURRENT ISSUES IN THE AREA OF JAILS AND JAIL MANAGEMENT.
  4. $152,601 spent. JAIL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO ELEVATE THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PERSONNEL IN THE FIELD OF LOCAL CORRECTIONS. THERE ARE THREE CERTIFICATIONS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE INCLUDING CERTIFIED JAIL MANAGER (CJM), CERTIFIED JAIL OFFICER (CJO), AND CERTIFIED JAIL SUPERVISOR (CJS). THE CERTIFICATIONS OBTAINED FROM THESE PRESTIGIOUS PROGRAMS PROVIDE DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE TO COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITIES THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN TESTED AND FOUND TO POSSESS A HIGH COMPETENCY IN THESE LEVELS OF CORRECTIONS.
  5. JAIL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO ELEVATE THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PERSONNEL IN THE FIELD OF LOCAL CORRECTIONS. THERE ARE THREE CERTIFICATIONS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE INCLUDING CERTIFIED JAIL MANAGER (CJM), CERTIFIED JAIL OFFICER (CJO), AND CERTIFIED JAIL SUPERVISOR (CJS). THE CERTIFICATIONS OBTAINED FROM THESE PRESTIGIOUS PROGRAMS PROVIDE DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE TO COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITIES THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN TESTED AND FOUND TO POSSESS A HIGH COMPETENCY IN THESE LEVELS OF CORRECTIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1993.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: American Bar Association (Chicago, IL), EIN 36-0723150. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.