Pre-Audit Preparation
Coordinate the audit, establish milestones, review documentation, identify needed evidence and prepare the facility for the on-site phase.
INDEPENDENT PREA AUDITING
PREA Auditing.
Grounded in Corrections Experience.
Professional PREA auditing for correctional facilities and agencies, informed by more than 30 years of firsthand corrections leadership.
DOJ-Certified PREA Auditor*
30+ Years Corrections Experience
ExperienceCorrections leadership from the facility floor to command.
ObjectivityIndependent assessment of practices against applicable PREA standards.
ProfessionalismOrganized communication, documentation and follow-through.
WHY SYSTEMATIC AUDITS
A PREA audit is about more than paperwork.
PREA auditing requires an understanding of how correctional facilities actually operate—how policies are implemented, how staff are trained, how reporting systems function, how records are maintained, and how practices affect people in confinement.
That operational perspective is at the center of Systematic Audits, LLC.
Founder Ron Kidwell spent approximately 30 years with the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, including service as Commander of the Confinement Division. His career also included leadership roles in human resources, internal affairs and accreditation.
EXPERIENCE THAT MATTERS
Real-world corrections leadership informs the audit.
Ron’s background provides a practical understanding of the environment in which PREA standards are implemented.
30+Years in law enforcement and corrections
30+DOJ PREA audits conducted
12+DHS PREA audits conducted
2019Systematic Audits founded
PREA AUDITING
A systematic approach from preparation through final reporting.
DOJ’s PREA standards require covered facilities to undergo audits on a recurring cycle, and the audit process evaluates actual practices—not simply written policies.
On-Site Assessment
Conduct the facility tour, interviews, file review, observations and functional testing required to evaluate PREA-related practices.
Evidence & Reporting
Analyze and triangulate evidence, assess each applicable standard, communicate findings and complete required reporting.
Important: Auditors must use the DOJ-issued PREA audit instrument. Third-party software may support planning or organization but cannot replace or supersede the DOJ instrument.
THE PROCESS
What a facility can expect.
01
Pre-Onsite Phase
Audit initiation, Online Audit System coordination, pre-audit questionnaire, documentation review and preparation.
02
Onsite Phase
Facility tour, interviews, record review, observation and testing of relevant reporting and operational systems.
03
Evidence Review & Interim Report
Evidence is analyzed and findings are documented in accordance with the applicable PREA requirements and audit methodology.
04
Corrective Action & Final Report
Where applicable, corrective-action work is addressed before completion of the final report.
OUR PEOPLE
Professional experience on both sides of compliance.
Ron Kidwell
Founder & PREA Auditor
Ron is a retired Major from the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office. He served as Commander of the Confinement Division and held leadership roles in Human Resources, Internal Affairs and Accreditation. He later served as an agency PREA Coordinator.
Ron completed DOJ’s PREA auditor certification process and conducts PREA audits for correctional facilities.
Dawn Kidwell
Operations & Administrative Support
Dawn brings prior experience in government-contractor security administration, confidential information handling, personnel processing, security-clearance administration, inspections and audit preparation.
SELECTED PUBLIC AUDIT RECORDS
The work speaks for itself.
2025
View official directory ↗
Amherst County Adult Detention Center
Virginia • Auditor: Ron Kidwell • Contractor: Systematic Audits LLC
2026
View official directory ↗
Nottoway Correctional Center
Virginia • Auditor: Ron Kidwell
2026
View official directory ↗
Hampton Community Corrections Center
Virginia • Auditor: Ron Kidwell
FAQ
Questions facilities often have.
What is a PREA audit?
A PREA audit is an assessment of a covered confinement facility’s compliance with the DOJ PREA standards. The audit examines actual practices using documentation, observation, interviews and other evidence.
Who may conduct a PREA audit?
PREA standards require audits to be conducted by an auditor meeting the applicable qualification requirements, and all auditors must be certified by the U.S. Department of Justice.
What types of facilities are covered?
The PREA standards include adult prisons and jails, lockups, community confinement facilities and juvenile facilities, subject to the applicable provisions and scope of the standards.
How often must facilities be audited?
Covered facilities are generally subject to an audit at least once during each three-year audit cycle, with additional annual scheduling requirements for facility types within an agency.
What happens during the onsite portion?
The auditor conducts a site review and uses interviews, documentation review, observation and applicable functional testing to assess the facility’s practices.
How do we start?
Contact Systematic Audits to discuss your facility, applicable audit scope, timing and next steps.
START A CONVERSATION
Preparing for a PREA audit?
Tell us a little about your facility and where you are in the audit cycle. We’ll respond with the appropriate next steps.