In the initial Rhode Island study, police administrators claimed the benefits of accreditation far outweighed the costs. They felt that there was greater accountability, improved morale, and improved public attitudes toward the department. However, none of these changes were studied empirically. The need to document the effects of such changes can make police departments more accessible to researchers who often previously came up against a 'blue curtain of secrecy.' Areas for research into the accreditation process are diverse, and such research can provide benefits both to police seeking improvements and to researchers. Features of the accreditation process involve the provision of opportunities for examining team and participatory management, patrol officer recognition, departmental self-assessment, interdepartmental cooperation, professionalism, bureaucratization, and locus of control. 23 references.