Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)

The Addison Police Department is proud to have been accredited in 2000 and reaccredited in 2003.

Four Founding Associations

In 1979, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) was created through the combined efforts of four major law enforcement organizations: the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriff's Association, and Police Executive Research Forum. These organizations continue to serve in an advisory capacity to the Commission and are responsible for appointing members of the Commission's Board.

Purpose of the Commission

CALEA represents the best in law enforcement in North America. Twenty-three percent of full-time police officers in the United States are members of agencies officially in the CALEA process. In Canada, ten percent of police officers at the regional and local level are members of accredited agencies.

Goals

The goals of CALEA are: (1) strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities; (2) formalize essential management procedures; (3) establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices; (4) improve service delivery; (5) solidify interagency cooperation and coordination; and (6) boost citizen and staff confidence in the agency.

Organization of the Board and Staff

The 21-member Commission is composed of 11 law enforcement professionals representing the United States and Canada, and 10 representatives of the public and private sectors. Commissioners serve three-year, staggered terms. The Commission meets three times a year to accredit and reaccredit agencies and provide guidance tor Commission operations.

The Commission's staff manages the accreditation process from application through accreditation and later reaccreditation. Under the leadership of an Executive Director, the staff provides guidance to agencies in the accreditation process; conducts training for accreditation managers, chief executives, and assessors; serves as liason between law enforcement agencies and the Commission; and handles business operations, including contracts, finances, publications, and marketing.

Private, non-profit status

The Commission is a private, non-profit corporation. It is not part of, or obligated to, any governmental unit. Fees paid by law enforcement agencies defray the Commission's major operating costs. The Commission's authority is derived solely from the voluntary participation of law enforcement agencies in the accreditation program.

The Benefits

Support from Government Officials

Accreditation provides objective evidence of an agency's commitment to excellence to leadership, resource management, and service delivery. Thus, government officials are more confident in the agency's ability to operate efficiently and meet community needs.

Increased Community Advocacy

Accreditation embodies the precepts of community-oriented policing. It creates a forum in which police and citizens work together to prevent and control crime. This partnership helps citizens understand the challenges confronting law enforcement and gives law enforcement clear direction about community expectations.

Recognition for Excellence

Accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence, and competence. It requires written directives and training to inform employees about policies and practices; facilities and equipment to ensure employees' safety; and processes to safeguard employees' rights. The community and police department can take pride in their department, knowing it represents the very best in law enforcement.

The Process and Standards

Determing Agency Eligibility

Law enforcement agencies that participate in the accreditation process are (1) legally constituted governmental entities with a mandated responsibility to enforce laws and whose personnel have general or special law enforcement powers; and (2) other law enforcement entities, such as private agencies with mandated police powers, whose eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis by the Commission.

www.calea.org

Additional information about CALEA is available at www.calea.org. The web site is also the location of CALEA's Clients Only Exemplary Programs. These are unique or extraordinary programs, practices, or procedures from accredited agencies that enhance some aspect of law enforcement professionalism, service, or that impact positively on the community. The purpose is to enable agencies, officially in the CALEA process, to identify programs that can be adapted to enhance a law enforcement agency's service and effectiveness.

Becoming Accredited

With instructional guidance from Commission staff, the agency conducts a self-assessment to comply with all applicable standards and gather proofs of compliance for later verification by the on-site assessment team. The time needed to finish self-assessment varies depending on the number of personnel assigned to the project and the extent of work required to bring the agency into compliance. In most agencies, self-assessment takes 24 months.

Upon completing the self-assessment, the agency notifies Commission staff that it is ready for its on-site assessment. Assessments generally are scheduled four months prior to a commission meeting in order to allow adequate time for logistical arrangements, the on-site, report writing and review, and last-minute repair work by the agency. To ensure the agency is fully prepared, Commission staff reviews selected standards before the on-site is set.

Compliance

Agencies that seek accreditation are required to comply only with those standards that are specifically applicable to them. Applicability is based on two factors: an agency's size and the functions it performs. Applicable standards are categorized as mandatory or other-than-mandatory. Agencies must comply with all applicable mandatory standards and 80% of applicable other-than-mandatory standards. If an agency cannot comply with a standard because of legislation, labor agreements, court orders, or case law, waivers can be sought from the Commission.

"What" not "How"

Seeking to establish the best professional practices, the standards prescribe "what" agencies should be doing, but not "how" they should be doing it. That decision is left up to the individual agency and its Chief Executive Officer.