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THE COMMISSION
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA®)
was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of
law enforcement's major executive associations:
- International
Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP);
- National
Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE);
- National
Sheriffs' Association (NSA); and the
- Police
Executive Research Forum (PERF).
The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation
Programs is to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by:
maintaining a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioners,
covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives;
establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing
professional excellence.
Specifically, CALEA’s goals are to:
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Strengthen crime prevention and control
capabilities;
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Formalize essential management procedures;
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Establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel
practices;
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Improve service delivery;
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Solidify interagency cooperation and
coordination; and
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Increase community and staff confidence in
the agency.
The CALEA
Accreditation Process is a proven modern management model; once implemented, it
presents the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), on a continuing basis, with a
blueprint that promotes the efficient use of resources and improves service
delivery - regardless of the size, geographic location, or functional
responsibilities of the agency.
This accreditation program provides law enforcement agencies an opportunity to
voluntarily demonstrate that they meet an established set of professional
standards which:
- Require an
agency to develop a comprehensive, well thought out, uniform set of written
directives. This is one of the most successful methods for reaching
administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to
personnel.
- Provide the
necessary reports and analyses a CEO needs to make fact-based, informed
management decisions.
- Require a
preparedness program be put in place - so an agency is ready to address
natural or man-made critical incidents.
- Are a means
for developing or improving upon an agency's relationship with the
community.
- Strengthen an
agency's accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a
continuum of standards that clearly define authority, performance, and
responsibilities.
- Can limit an
agency's liability and risk exposure because it demonstrates that
internationally recognized standards for law enforcement have been met, as
verified by a team of independent outside CALEA-trained assessors.
- Facilitates
an agency's pursuit of professional excellence.
CALEA Structure
A Commission Board composed of 21 members governs CALEA. Eleven must be law
enforcement practitioners; the balance is selected from the public and private
sectors. Generally, they reflect a representation from local, state/provincial
and international law enforcement and public safety organizations, along with
business, academia, the judiciary, and state/provincial and local government.
The Commissioners are appointed by the four founding law enforcement
organizations, and serve without compensation.
CALEA operates as an independent, nonprofit (501[c]3) corporation, and
maintains a professional staff managed by an Executive Director. The staff
conducts all administrative and operational duties as directed by the
Commission. CALEA publishes a newsletter magazine three times a year, entitled
CALEA Update, for its members and maintains a professional website. CALEA offers
accreditation related training at each of it's conferences, as well as
presentations on current issues in law enforcement.
2009
Board of Commissioners
CALEA
Staff
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