On-site Assessments Improved

After two years of testing and client feedback, CALEA Commissioners approved a panel review segment as part of all future on-site assessments.  CALEA will start to introduce an assessment model tailored to individual agency conditions that includes:

1. A review of all standards;
2. Pre-assessment review by mail of selected standards;
3. File review of additional standards at agency on-site;
4. A panel review where agency personnel make presentations concerning standards compliance;
5. A public hearing or telephone session; and
6. Optional static display/agency tour.

CALEA has completed 36 of these assessments, and they were well received by both assessors and agency personnel.  This on-site permits assessors to have significantly more interaction with agency personnel, and diminishes “file only compliance” to actual compliance.  It is particularly effective in permitting agency personnel to demonstrate their abilities and specialties.  Agency personnel understand accreditation, how important they are to it and how accreditation benefits their agency. 

CALEA Executive Director Sylvester Daughtry, Jr., said, “This is just an improvement in how we do business.  The adjustments to implement panel reviews are not complicated.”  CALEA staff reviews have determined that discussions on the improvements can be incorporated into existing training at CALEA conferences.

The Commission also discontinued the accelerated reaccreditation on-site based on a staff study of assessor and client agency critiques.  A committee of client agency personnel indicated these assessments were not effective in measuring agency compliance and recommended they be discontinued. 

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