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The Process
The accreditation process involves a comprehensive
agency self-assessment of the 439 standards. The standards address six major law
enforcement subjects:
- role, responsibilities,
and relationships with other agencies;
- organization, management,
and administration;
- personnel administration;
- law enforcement
operations, operational support, and traffic law enforcement;
- prisoner and court
related services; and
- auxiliary and technical
services.
After undergoing self-assessment, an on-site assessment
is completed by a team of trained independent assessors. These CALEA assessors
verify the agency`s compliance with standards by checking its proofs and
interviewing operations and management personnel. The assessors also conduct a
public hearing to elicit citizens comments.
Accreditation periods are three years in duration. During
this time the agency must maintain compliance with the standards, and must
submit annual reports attesting to this fact. Re-accreditation occurs at the end
of this period, pending another successful on-site assessment and a hearing
before the Commission.
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