Sheriff's Office • 100 North Fifth Avenue West • Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2340 • www.stlouiscountymn.gov
Gordon Ramsay
Sheriff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 1, 2025
Media Contact: Jessica Pete, Jail Administrator
(218) 725-6139
St. Louis County Jail earns national accreditation for quality health care services
The St. Louis County Jail in partnership with Aspirus St. Luke's has earned accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care by demonstrating compliance with NCCHC’s nationally recognized standards of care for correctional health services in jails. Accreditation recognizes the commitment of staff at the Jail and Aspirus St. Luke's to providing quality health services for the incarcerated population.
To earn NCCHC accreditation, St Louis County Jail and Aspirus St. Luke's underwent rigorous professional assessments in 2023 and 2024. During the assessments, a team of experienced physicians and experts in correctional health care surveyed the facility for compliance with jail-specific standards in several areas such as patient care and treatment, health promotion, safety and disease prevention, governance and administration, personnel and training, special needs and services, and medical-legal issues.
"We have a statutory obligation to provide health care to those incarcerated in our jail, and we are committed to doing so with innovation, excellence, and efficiency,” said Jail Administrator Jessica Pete. “I want to recognize the health care staff, custody staff, and leadership for their hard work and dedication.
“I would particularly like to thank our health services provider Aspirus St. Luke's for working so diligently with us to achieve accreditation," Pete added. "We've partnered since November of 2022 and accreditation has been our goal since day one.”
For 45 years, NCCHC’s highly respected standards have provided guidance to help correctional health professionals and administrators improve the health of their incarcerated populations and the communities to which they return, increase efficiency of health services delivery, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and reduce the risk of adverse legal judgments. The consensus-based standards are developed in consultation with national experts in correctional health care, mental health, law, and corrections.
"In achieving NCCHC accreditation, the St. Louis County Jail, in partnership with Aspirus St. Luke's, has demonstrated its commitment to quality, standards-based correctional health care,” said Deborah Ross, CCHP, NCCHC chief executive officer. “Accreditation is a voluntary process, and we commend this team for successfully undertaking this challenge. The health of incarcerated people is a vitally important component of public health.”
 The St. Louis County Jail, in partnership with Aspirus St. Luke's, has achieved national accreditation for its health care services. Shown above (L-R) are Dr. Omar Siddiqi, Celka Buss, Jail Administrator Jessica Pete, Kayla Bjorlin, Melissa Dybvig, and Allie Hoerr.
 The St. Louis County Jail and Aspirus/St. Luke's have earned national accreditation for quality health care services
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