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Less than 1% of the nation’s 18,000 law enforcement agencies are nationally accredited. While many states offer state accreditation, the importance of being nationally accredited cannot be overstated.

By achieving accreditation, law enforcement agencies can reduce risk and liability exposure, gain increased public confidence and earn credibility among peer agencies. A parent wouldn’t necessarily send their child to an unaccredited hospital for emergency treatment or an unaccredited college for education, so why wouldn’t they expect their law enforcement agency, in this case their Sheriff’s Office to be an accredited law enforcement agency?

While attending a training several years back, a national speaker on law enforcement lawsuits made the comment that when Ford Motor Company purchases parts for their vehicles, (which they receive from all over the United States and in some cases outside of the United States), there are standards that need to be followed so that when all of those parts come together, they fit precisely and work correctly. The speaker went on to compare that to the law enforcement profession, which in most cases does not meet national standards. The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) provides best practices that meet national standards.

CALEA is a means whereby law enforcement agencies can voluntarily work toward national accreditation. Agencies can choose to meet the basic law enforcement accreditation which requires compliance with 183 nationally accepted standards or choose to meet 461 standards for Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation.

While there are 559 CALEA Accredited police departments nationwide and another 100 agencies in the process, there are only 98 CALEA accredited sheriff offices nationwide, with an additional 24 in the process. As a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association Board of Directors and a Commissioner for CALEA over the past 4 years, I believe that Sheriff’s Offices are missing an opportunity to remain relevant by not enrolling their agency and pursuing the CALEA voluntary accreditation program. In 2011, our agency enrolled in the program and was initially accredited in 2014. Sheriff’s should also consider getting their jail accredited through the American Correctional Association (ACA) as well as having their law enforcement department accredited through CALEA.

This presentation will explain the benefits of CALEA accreditation, and how being accredited often mitigates lawsuits, or in some cases avoids lawsuits. This presentation will answer the myths of both the cost of becoming accredited and the work necessary to accomplish this goal. Lastly, the presentation will explain how improved effectiveness and public confidence will benefit the Office of the Sheriff.

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