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Accreditation - The Future of Law Enforcement Through Professionalization

NCJ Number
91366
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 31 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1983) Pages: 31-34
Author(s)
J V Cotter
Date Published
1983
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the history and objectives of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the proposed accreditation process, and the nature of the pilot test of the accreditation process.
Abstract
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies was formed in 1979 through the combined efforts of major national and international police organizations. The Commission has developed standards believed to reflect the best practices of a professional law enforcement community. The standards are to be reexamined continuously as an inherent part of their use as accrediting tools. The proposed accreditation process involves completing an application for accreditation, completing an agency profile questionnaire, conducting an agency self-assessment that enables an agency to measure itself against the standards and bring itself into compliance with them, and an onsite assessment by a Commission team. The process also involves a Commission review of the team report, an award ceremony for the accredited agency, and a reaccreditation after 5 years. The pilot test of this process involves five volunteer agencies of varying sizes. The pilot test will determine how long assessors will have to be onsite, the clarity with which Commission documents address the procedure, and the time frame within which an agency can be expected to comply with the applicable standards. The pilot test will also provide information helpful in determining costs and fees. The tests will be finished by early September 1983, in time for the Commission to review the test results and make needed changes in the accreditation process before accepting applications in October.

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