NCJ Number
102223
Date Published
1986
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This report describes the procedures whereby the Illinois State Police became the first accredited statewide law enforcement agency (on June 15, 1986).
Abstract
Accreditation was conferred by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), which was established in 1979 to develop standards for police operations, administration, and management. In 1981, the Illinois State Police set accreditation as a goal and formed an accreditation task force with members representing each departmental division. An accreditation manager was appointed as project coordinator. The task force analyzed agency policy and practice against CALEA standards applicable to each agency division. Policy was developed or modified to comply with the standards. Compliance with standards applicable to local rather than State agencies, such as crime prevention and community relations, presented problems. These were typically resolved by the task force's drafting of a position paper that requested nonapplicable status for the standard. CALEA acted favorably on most task force requests. CALEA sent five out-of-State law enforcement professionals to assess the department. They reviewed compliance with all standards and visited 10 field sites. The CALEA team found substantial compliance with the standards, and the commission conferred accreditation. 8 notes.