CALEA- International Accreditation

WHAT IS CALEA?

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) is a voluntary, non-governmental agency forged in 1979 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Sheriff's Association (NSA), and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to create a body of standards which further the professional level of service offered by local law enforcement agencies.

WHAT DOES CALEA ACCREDITATION DO? 

• CALEA Accreditation requires an agency to develop a comprehensive, well thought out, uniform set of written directives. This is one of the most successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to personnel.
• CALEA Accreditation standards provide the necessary reports and analyses a CEO needs to make fact-based, informed management decisions.
• CALEA Accreditation requires a preparedness program be put in place—so an agency is ready to address natural or man-made unusual occurrences.
• CALEA Accreditation is a means for developing or improving upon an agency’s relationship with the community.
• CALEA Accreditation strengthens an agency’s accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a continuum of standards that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities.
• Being CALEA Accredited can limit an agency’s liability and risk exposure because it demonstrates that internationally recognized standards for law enforcement have been met, as verified by a team of independent outside CALEA-trained assessors.
• CALEA Accreditation facilitates an agency’s pursuit of professional excellence.

ACCREDITATION CYCLE

The Jackson Police Department was granted International Accreditation on March 15, 2008. The Police Department received their award in front of the Full Commission on Accreditation at the National Conference in Atlanta, GA.

To retain its accredited status, the Jackson Police Department is required to maintain compliance with applicable standards, keep its proofs of compliance up-to-date, live by the letter and spirit of those standards, submit to CALEA their appropriate accreditation continuation fees, as well as an annual report. Reaccreditation occurs at the end of the four years, following another successful on-site assessment and hearing before the Commission. Corporal Rick Whitaker is the CALEA Accreditation Manager. He continues his efforts for maintaining CALEA compliance for the organization. The Jackson Police Department was granted reaccreditation in 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2021.

ACCREDITATION PUBLIC COMMENT PORTAL

The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency's compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence.

IMPORTANT: CALEA is not an investigatory body and subsequently the public portal should not be used to submit information for such purposes. Additionally, there will be no response other than acknowledgment to submissions; however, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with standards and the tenets of CALEA Accreditation.

Click here to access the portal to comment on the Jackson Police Department.