Accreditation ProcessAccreditation Process

History of AccreditationHistory of Accreditation

1960’s – Law Enforcement faced with riots 1960’s – Law Enforcement faced with riots and disturbances over race and the and disturbances over race and the Vietnam War.Vietnam War. Public lost confidence in law enforcement due Public lost confidence in law enforcement due

to their inability to prepare for emergencies.to their inability to prepare for emergencies. Law Enforcement did not learn from other’s Law Enforcement did not learn from other’s

mistakes.mistakes. No communication between agencies.No communication between agencies.

Many LEOs under-trained.Many LEOs under-trained. Hiring/recruiting practices often discriminatoryHiring/recruiting practices often discriminatory SOPs not well written.SOPs not well written. Public did not respect LEOs as professionals.Public did not respect LEOs as professionals.

History of AccreditationHistory of Accreditation

October 1971 – Tasked to develop October 1971 – Tasked to develop National Criminal Justice StandardsNational Criminal Justice Standards

Law Enforcement Assistance Law Enforcement Assistance Administration provided $1.75 million Administration provided $1.75 million in grant money to develop standards in grant money to develop standards for law enforcement agencies.for law enforcement agencies.

CALEACALEAThe Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement

AgenciesAgencies

1979 CALEA formed by:1979 CALEA formed by: IACP-International Association of Chiefs of PoliceIACP-International Association of Chiefs of Police NOBLE-National Organization for Black Law NOBLE-National Organization for Black Law

Enforcement ExecutivesEnforcement Executives NSA-National Sheriff’s AssociationNSA-National Sheriff’s Association PERF-Police Executive Research ForumPERF-Police Executive Research Forum

Accreditation became part of the answer to Accreditation became part of the answer to the problems of the past generation and is the problems of the past generation and is also part of the solution to issues also part of the solution to issues confronting law enforcement today.confronting law enforcement today.

Florida Statutory ConsiderationFlorida Statutory Consideration

1993 F.S. 943.1251993 F.S. 943.125 Encouraged FSA & FPCA to create an Encouraged FSA & FPCA to create an

independent voluntary LEA accreditation independent voluntary LEA accreditation program.program.

In response to a need to assure the In response to a need to assure the public that quality services are delivered public that quality services are delivered in accordance with recognized in accordance with recognized standards.standards.

CFACFAThe Commission for Florida Law Enforcement AccreditationThe Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation

Developed a process for Developed a process for accreditation that required accreditation that required compliance with more than 250 compliance with more than 250 professional standards designed professional standards designed specifically for Florida law specifically for Florida law enforcement agencies.enforcement agencies.

Comprised of four sheriffs, four Comprised of four sheriffs, four chiefs, and one representative each chiefs, and one representative each from the Association of Counties, the from the Association of Counties, the League of Cities, and the Judiciary.League of Cities, and the Judiciary.

Accredited vs. Non-AccreditedAccredited vs. Non-Accredited

1993 – 1997 study by the 1993 – 1997 study by the Intergovernmental Risk Management Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency (IRMA)Agency (IRMA) Saves money in lawsuit defensesSaves money in lawsuit defenses 21% of state/local LEOs work for 21% of state/local LEOs work for

accredited agencies.accredited agencies. 17% Accredited agencies had fewer 17% Accredited agencies had fewer

lawsuits.lawsuits. Paid out 35% less in awards than non-Paid out 35% less in awards than non-

accredited agencies.accredited agencies.

Accredited vs. Non-AccreditedAccredited vs. Non-Accredited

10 agencies accredited October 199610 agencies accredited October 1996

100 + agencies accredited to date100 + agencies accredited to date

160 agencies in process160 agencies in process

What is Accreditation?What is Accreditation?

“… “… the bestowing of credentials the bestowing of credentials symbolizing approval from a symbolizing approval from a professional organization upon professional organization upon practitioners or specific institutions. practitioners or specific institutions. It is a progressive and time-proven It is a progressive and time-proven way of helping organizations way of helping organizations evaluate and improve their overall evaluate and improve their overall performance.”performance.”

Goals and ObjectivesGoals and Objectives

To establish and maintain standards that To establish and maintain standards that represent current professional law represent current professional law enforcement practices; enforcement practices;

To increase effectiveness and efficiency in To increase effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of law enforcement services; the delivery of law enforcement services;

To establish standards that address and To establish standards that address and reduce liability for the agency and its reduce liability for the agency and its members; members;

To establish standards that make an To establish standards that make an agency and its personnel accountable to agency and its personnel accountable to the constituency they serve; the constituency they serve;

AccreditationAccreditation

It is not mandatory!It is not mandatory! Does not dictate “how” you Does not dictate “how” you

accomplish your goals, mission, or accomplish your goals, mission, or delivery of services.delivery of services.

It does not tell you who to hire, fire, It does not tell you who to hire, fire, or promote.or promote.

It is not a rubber stamp.It is not a rubber stamp.

AccreditationAccreditation

Is affordable, achievable and Is affordable, achievable and maintainablemaintainable

Provides guidelines for professional law Provides guidelines for professional law enforcement practicesenforcement practices

Is good businessIs good business Reinforces federal, state, and local lawsReinforces federal, state, and local laws Standards are developed by peersStandards are developed by peers Is a vehicle for implementing changeIs a vehicle for implementing change

Initial StepsInitial Steps

CEO and agency commitment CEO and agency commitment Appoint/hire and Accreditation Manager Appoint/hire and Accreditation Manager

TeamTeam CommitteeCommittee Agency-wide Agency-wide

Consult with Program Manager Consult with Program Manager Obtain a manual, purchase software Obtain a manual, purchase software Review Policies and Procedures Review Policies and Procedures Attend Accreditation Manager Training Attend Accreditation Manager Training

Initial StepsInitial Steps

Self AssessmentSelf Assessment Visit accredited agencies Visit accredited agencies Become familiar with standards Become familiar with standards Evaluate facilityEvaluate facility Update written directivesUpdate written directives File construction File construction

Benefits to AgencyBenefits to Agency

Clearly defined lines of authorityClearly defined lines of authority Consistency in operational Consistency in operational

proceduresprocedures Provides a quality work environmentProvides a quality work environment Increases employee morale through Increases employee morale through

statewide recognitionstatewide recognition

Benefits to AgencyBenefits to Agency

Strengthens the agency’s defense Strengthens the agency’s defense against lawsuits and complaintsagainst lawsuits and complaints

Review of agency status and Review of agency status and readinessreadiness

Possible reduction in insurance liability Possible reduction in insurance liability premiums and lawsuit settlementspremiums and lawsuit settlements

More efficient use of limited resourcesMore efficient use of limited resources

Benefits to CEOBenefits to CEO

Ensures that policies and procedures Ensures that policies and procedures are documented and defendableare documented and defendable

Assurance personnel are trained Assurance personnel are trained according to CEO’s policies and according to CEO’s policies and proceduresprocedures

Increased confidence in CEO’s ability Increased confidence in CEO’s ability to manage the organizationto manage the organization

Increases availability of decision-Increases availability of decision-making informationmaking information

Benefits to CommunityBenefits to Community

Increased confidence in agency’s Increased confidence in agency’s ability to deliver quality law ability to deliver quality law enforcement servicesenforcement services

Improved community and agency Improved community and agency interactioninteraction

Efficient use of law enforcement tax Efficient use of law enforcement tax dollarsdollars

Better trained officersBetter trained officers

Accreditation Time LineAccreditation Time Line

Full Compliance – 24 monthsFull Compliance – 24 months Contract signed August 2004Contract signed August 2004

Estimated Mock Assessment – Estimated Mock Assessment – May 2005May 2005

Estimated Full Assessment – August Estimated Full Assessment – August 20052005

Estimated Accreditation Meeting – Estimated Accreditation Meeting – October 2005October 2005

Policy ReviewPolicy Review

Standard identified by Accreditation Standard identified by Accreditation ManagerManager

Determination made as whether a Determination made as whether a current Written Directive exists or a current Written Directive exists or a new Written Directive should be new Written Directive should be developeddeveloped

Personnel identified to review Written Personnel identified to review Written Directive’s/standardDirective’s/standard

Assistance Request Assignment Assistance Request Assignment made/logged and sent to personnelmade/logged and sent to personnel

Policy ReviewPolicy Review

Assistance request will include;Assistance request will include; Standard #Standard # Date of requestDate of request Due Date of requestDue Date of request

Attached to Assistance requestAttached to Assistance request Quick print of standard;Quick print of standard;

Standard#Standard# Topic of StandardTopic of Standard Text of StandardText of Standard

Bullets (each bullet MUST be addressed/may use Bullets (each bullet MUST be addressed/may use multiple Written Directive’s)multiple Written Directive’s)

Compliance KeysCompliance Keys Indicates whether standard requires a written directive, Indicates whether standard requires a written directive,

observation, etc…observation, etc…

Policy ReviewPolicy Review

When Request for Assistance When Request for Assistance received;received; Note Due Date-Notify A/C. if cannot be Note Due Date-Notify A/C. if cannot be

metmet For current policies;For current policies;

Ensure that all language is current and Ensure that all language is current and accurateaccurate

Ensure that Written Directive identifies Ensure that Written Directive identifies practices in placepractices in place

If Written Directive does not reflect practices, If Written Directive does not reflect practices, make suggestions for change (in writing)make suggestions for change (in writing)

Simply PutSimply Put

Accreditation helps to bring law Accreditation helps to bring law enforcement up to the level that it enforcement up to the level that it should be at anyway.should be at anyway.