CHANGES TO CALEA ACCREDITATION PROGRAMS

CALEA Commissioners recently endorsed a Tiered Law Enforcement Accreditation Model to become effective January 1, 2011.  These new models allow agencies to choose between different levels of CALEA Accreditation based upon the needs of the organization and its capacities. 

Tiered Law Enforcement Accreditation- the three levels of CALEA Accreditation are referred to as:

(1) CALEA Law Enforcement Accreditation- The first level of Law Enforcement Accreditation will be comprised of 189 standards. The standards in this program will be made up of standards specifically linked to life, health and safety issues, as well as those standards identified as essential to the effective delivery of services for contemporary law enforcement agencies.

(2) CALEA Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation-Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation will reflect the full complement of CALEA Standards for Law Enforcement Agencies, currently 479 standards. 

(3) CALEA Law Enforcement Accreditation with Excellence- Is available to superlative agencies achieving the advanced level of accreditation. Accreditation with Excellence will serve as the replacement for the former CALEA Flagship Award. This award will be determined by the Commission and will be presented during CALEA Conference banquets.

The former CALEA Law Enforcement Recognition Program will no longer be available for agencies wishing to enroll.  However, agencies currently enrolled in the program may continue in the Law Enforcement Recognition program through the next award period, but must transition to Law Enforcement Accreditation thereafter.

Campus Security Accreditation

CALEA has developed an Accreditation Program for Campus Security agencies.  This program is open to non-sworn agencies serving in the college and university environment, secondary schools, private institutions, and public settings. This credentialing program was created in response to a demand by public safety professionals serving these types of organizations.

There are fifteen (15) new standards applicable only to campus law enforcement agencies.  The standards address risk assessments, special security provisions, Clery Act reporting requirements. Twelve (12) of these new standards have been included in the Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.

These new programs have provided new accreditation options for college and university law enforcement agencies.

Refer to CALEA at www.calea.org for further details.

Stay tuned for further updates.