The CALEA Standards Review and Interpretation Committee, referred to as the “SRIC” meets in Executive Session just prior to each CALEA conference to work on standards for revision or creation of new ones. At the CALEA conference, the Commission votes to approve a standard or direct staff to post the standard for client comments.  Deleted language is shown as red strikethrough. The proposed new language is shown as highlighted and in bold text.

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3.1.6 (M) Written Directive System

The academy has a written directive system that includes, at a minimum, the following:

1. a policy statement that vests in the academy's chief executive officer the authority to issue, modify, or approve academy written directives;
2. identification of the persons or positions, other than the academy's chief executive officer, authorized to issue written directives;
3. a description of the written directives system format;
4. procedures for indexing, purging, updating, and revising, purging and archiving directives;
5. statements of academy policy;
6. rules and regulations;
7. procedures for carrying out academy activities; and
8. procedures for review of proposed policies, procedures, rules, or regulations.

Commentary

The academy should establish a formal written directive system to provide employees with a clear understanding of the constraints and expectations relating to the performance of their duties. The written directive system should permit rapid access to individual policies, procedures, and rules or regulations, and should differentiate types of directives.

Changes in chief executive officers should be accomplished without disruption to services provided by the agency.  Written directives have an element of implicit permanency in the agency; however, during periods of leadership change it is important to ensure policies remain relevant and contemporary. This should be accomplished with a bridging document that indicates until otherwise amended or remanded, all policies of the organization remain in effect.

Archiving directives allows access to previous versions that may be required to address complaints or litigation from the time period that the directive was in effect. When archiving directives, agencies should be mindful of their agency, local or state records retention schedules. (M)