Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension LLC is seeking experienced Certified PREA Auditors to support DHS PREA auditing services for ICE immigration detention facilities, ICE holding facilities, and CBP holding facilities. This role is designed for professionals who understand detention, corrections, confinement, investigative, monitoring, or compliance environments and can independently assess facility compliance against DHS PREA Standards.

The ideal candidate is a disciplined, objective, detail-oriented auditor who can review sensitive records, conduct onsite inspections, interview detainees and staff, evaluate policy and procedure evidence, document compliance findings, and produce clear, defensible audit reports. This role is mission-critical because DHS relies on independent PREA audits to assess whether facilities are preventing, detecting, and responding appropriately to sexual abuse and assault in confinement settings. The SOW requires auditors to support pre-audit document review, onsite inspection, interviews, evidence review, compliance determinations, audit report drafting, CAP evidence review, CAP final determinations, and submission of working papers.

Summary of Contractor Role

The Certified PREA Auditor will perform independent facility compliance audits in accordance with DHS PREA Standards, DHS PREA Audit Instruments, agency guidance, and task order schedules. Audits generally include three phases: pre-audit review of facility and agency documentation, onsite inspection and interviews, and post-audit analysis, reporting, and corrective action plan review.

The role requires strong professional judgment, exceptional writing discipline, comfort working in secure or controlled environments, and the ability to handle sensitive but unclassified information appropriately. Auditors must be able to distinguish objective evidence from opinion, assess each standard strictly against DHS PREA requirements, identify non-compliance, recommend corrective action where permitted, redact personally identifiable information, and submit complete working papers in the format required by DHS.

Anticipated Day-to-Day Activities

• Review DHS PREA-related documentation, including Pre-Audit Questionnaires, facility policies, procedures, reports, investigative files, prior audits, accreditation materials, and supporting records.
• Prepare issue logs or requests for additional documentation within required pre-audit timelines.
• Conduct onsite facility inspections at ICE immigration detention facilities, ICE holding facilities, and CBP holding facilities.
• Observe facility operations, programs, activities, housing areas, intake processes, detainee movement, and other relevant operational conditions.
• Interview representative samples of detainees, facility staff, contractors, volunteers, and other individuals as required by the audit instrument.
• Coordinate through the COR or designated federal representative and avoid direct facility contact unless specifically authorized.
• Use approved government communication channels for audit-related communications.
• Protect sensitive but unclassified information, PII, working papers, handwritten notes, audit files, and facility documentation.
• Assess compliance against DHS PREA Standards and DHS PREA Audit Instruments, not unrelated standards.
• Determine whether facilities exceed, meet, do not meet, or are not subject to applicable standards.
• Document clear evidence-based findings, including methodology, sampling sizes, basis for conclusions, and corrective action requirements where applicable.
• Draft interim, provisional, and final PREA audit reports using DHS report templates and supplemental guidance.
• Redact personally identifiable detainee or staff information from reports, while preserving information for DHS upon request.
• Review corrective action evidence submitted during the CAP period and determine whether additional information is needed.
• Issue CAP Final Determination Reports within required timelines when facilities undergo corrective action.
• Submit working papers, audit tools, interview guides, site inspection notes, handwritten notes, and supporting documentation as directed.
• Report any sexual abuse allegations received or discovered during the audit in accordance with agency and facility procedures.
• Maintain required PRC certification, DHS PREA certification, agency training, and network access requirements.