Accreditation Process (From Police Practice in the Nineties: Key Management Issues, P 124-134, 1989, James J. Fyfe, ed. -- See NCJ-121406)

• NCJ Number: 121412
• Author(s): C J Behan
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: International City/County Management Assoc
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

In the past 40 years, law enforcement has progressed dramatically, with thousands of officers earning advanced degrees, criminal justice curricula appearing in many universities, recruiting efforts extended to women and minorities, and the acceptance of the idea of accrediting police departments.

Abstract

The establishment of standards for police departments has been forwarded by the creation of the Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, the Office of Law Enforcement Assistance (now the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration), and the 1968 passage of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act. In 1979, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA) was formed to develop measurable standards aimed at delivery of law enforcement services, increasing citizen and officer confidence in law enforcement standards and practices, and effecting greater standardization of police administrative and operational procedures. After four years, 944 standards were adopted, guiding police departments on the issues they needed to address in their manuals by developing policies tailored to the needs of their jurisdictions. Accreditation requires the commitment of the department's chief executive and the appointment of an accreditation manager. The process consists of application, self-assessment, on-site inspection, and CALEA review phases. As accreditation occurs every five years, each police department needs to remain vigilant in adhering to its standards and manual; there should be clear directives regarding continual monitoring and evaluation of departmental activities. The benefits of accreditation include improved organization and administration, increased recognition and professional approval, enhanced accountability and professional performance, improved public relations, savings in liability insurance and litigation costs, improved employee morale, and greater official response to budgetary requests. Today, more than 100 agencies are accredited and 700 others are somewhere in the midst of the process.