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;
• risoner 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.