The Commission was established by statute in 1983 because of the recognition that sheriff's officers have training and educational needs that differ significantly from other criminal justice officers. The primary Commission duties are to establish minimum education and training standards for entry-level employment and to certify these persons as qualified. Other Commission duties are to establish minimum standards for the certification of training programs and to certify them, to establish minimum standards for instructors, to assess whether or not agencies are in compliance with statutory training standards, and to adopt and amend bylaws for the Commission's internal management and control. The Commission is composed of 16 members: 11 sheriffs, 1 person appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 1 appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and 1 appointed by the Governor. The president of the Department of Community Colleges and the director of the Institute of Government are ex officio, nonvoting members. The Attorney General's Office provides staff to the Commission. The North Carolina Justice Academy is the curriculum-development arm of the Commission.