The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Police Department
	General Order 1-7.2	Commission for the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies

This policy establishes the guidelines for the accreditation and continued re-accreditation of the UNCG Police Department utilizing the standards set forth by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).

It is the policy of the department to achieve and maintain nationally accredited status through the CALEA. National accreditation demonstrates our commitment to the high standards of excellence when dealing with employees of our department and to the community that we serve.

1. Definitions
   • CALEA^® – The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies; formed in 1979 to establish a body of standards designed to:
     1. Increase law enforcement agency capabilities to prevent and control crime;
     2. Increase agency effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of law enforcement services;
     3. Increase cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies and with other agencies of the criminal justice system; and
     4. Increase citizen and employee confidence in goals, objectives, policies, and practices of the agency.
   • Standard – Requirements that provide a description of "what" must be accomplished but allows wide latitude in determining "how" to achieve compliance with each applicable standard; designed to reflect the best professional requirements and practices for a law enforcement agency.
   • Accreditation Manager – The person who is responsible for ensuring the agency continues to maintain compliance with all requirements of the accreditation process.
   • Proof – Examples of work that the UNCG Police has accomplished that show compliance with CALEA standards. Examples may include inspections for standards that require equipment be kept in operational order and class rosters and instructional outlines when the standards require training on a particular item.
   • PowerDMS™ – a document management software designed to manage, distribute and track all accreditation documentation including policies, procedures, training and proofs.
2. Phases of Accreditation
   
   There are five general phases or steps in the accreditation process: enrollment, self-assessment, on-site assessment, commission review, and maintaining compliance and reaccreditation.
   
   Enrollment
   
   The accreditation process began when the UNCG Police Department applied to CALEA for applicant status. Entry into the process was voluntary. Once the department's eligibility was confirmed, the department and the Commission signed an accreditation agreement that identifies what is expected from each party. The UNCG Police Department completed and returned an Agency Profile Questionnaire (APQ) to the CALEA staff, thereby providing agency-specific information to facilitate interaction with the Accreditation Manager in determining applicability of standards, interpreting standards, and providing program-related assistance. Completed by UNCG Police in January 2009.
   
   Self-Assessment
   
   The department began self-assessment with the return of the signed agreement and APQ. The department had 36 months from the date a CALEA Official signed the Accreditation Agreement to complete self-assessment and schedule an assessment. The department proceeded with self-assessment by complying with applicable standards, developing proofs of compliance, and preparing for the assessment.
   
   The Accreditation Manager began the agency self-assessment, which involved a thorough examination of all aspects of the department's operation to determine whether we complied with all applicable standards. The UNCG Police Department also developed plans for accomplishing its public information requirements and on-site assessment, which pertained to activities for the next phase. Completed by UNCG Police in March 2016.
   
   On-Site Assessment
   
   Once the department has notified CALEA of its completion of the self-assessment process and its desire to schedule an assessment, the Accreditation Manager schedules a date that is mutually agreeable and in compliance with the agreement between the agency and CALEA. The Commission will select and train a team of outside assessors to conduct the department's assessment. These assessors are chosen from departments similar in size to the UNCG Police Department. The initial on-site assessment for UNCG Police was conducted in March 2016.
   
   The assessment consists of the following activities.
   • Off-site file review
   • Agency tour
   • On-site file review
   • Interviews and interactions with agency personnel
   • Public information activities
   • Exit interview
   Commission Review
   
   The Commission's Agency Review Committees conduct hearings, which are open for public attendance, regarding the agency's compliance to applicable standards. The Chief of Police and staff of the Accreditation Team are invited to participate in this review. At the hearing, the Commission reviews the final report and receives testimony from departmental personnel, assessors, staff, or others. If satisfied that the department has met all compliance requirements, the Commission will award the UNCG Police Department accredited status. UNCG Police was first awarded LE1 Accreditation by CALEA in July 2016. Accreditation is for a four year period.
   
   Maintaining Compliance and Reaccreditation
   
   To maintain accredited status, the department must remain in compliance with applicable standards. The department submits annual reports to the Commission attesting to continued compliance and reporting changes or difficulties experienced during the year, including actions taken to resolve noncompliance. If necessary, the Commission reserves the right to schedule interim hearings to consider discontinuing accredited status if noncompliance becomes a serious issue. At the conclusion of the four year period, the Commission offers the agency an opportunity to repeat the process and continue accreditation into the future.
3. The Standards
   
   As previously mentioned, some standards may not be applicable to an agency because of its size. In addition, standards may or may not be applicable depending on the functions performed or not performed by the agency. Each agency, upon entering the process, must examine the standards to identify those that are not applicable based on current agency mandated responsibilities. Standards that fall into this category are considered to be not applicable by function: neither those standards nor their corresponding level of compliance would be applicable to the agency. For example, the UNCG Police Department does not have the responsibility to provide court security in its jurisdiction because this function is performed by the Sheriff's Office.
4. Accreditation Training
   
   The Training Coordinator will be responsible for familiarizing all employees with the accreditation process. Information will be given to all new employees within one month of their hire, all agency personnel during the self-assessment phase of accreditation, and all agency personnel before the on-site assessment. This training will include the history and background of accreditation and the agency's involvement, the accreditation process, the goals and objectives of accreditation and the advantages of accreditation and its impact on the agency. Employees will receive training in the following areas, when applicable.
   • New Hires – While attending orientation, all newly hired personnel will receive familiarization training on the accreditation process. The training will be provided by the Accreditation Manager, or designee. The Training Coordinator, in conjunction with the Accreditation Manager, is responsible for administering this training to all newly hired employees.
   • Self-Assessment – All agency personnel will receive familiarization training pertaining to the self assessment phase of the accreditation process during the initial phase and each re-accreditation thereafter. 
   • On-Site Assessment – Before an on-site assessment is conducted, all agency employees will receive familiarization training relating to the on-site assessment phase of the accreditation process. 
5. Required Reports and Activities
   
   The Accreditation Manager will use PowerDMS as a means to ensure that all CALEA required reports and activities are completed on time. In January of each year, the Accreditation Manager will enter all CALEA required reports into PowerDMS. The reports will be entered to show:
   • Who is responsible for completing the report or analysis, and
   • The date the report or analysis is due.
   The use of PowerDMS will allow the Accreditation Manager to follow the progress of report completion automatically as assignments are completed.
   
   For those reports that are due on a "per incident" basis, the Internal Affairs Reporting System will be used to verify completions.
6. Duties of the Accreditation Manager
   
   The Accreditation Manager is responsible for ensuring the agency continues to maintain compliance with all requirements of the accreditation process. This includes, but is not limited to:
   • Assign standards, develop schedules and set deadlines for the completion of accreditation related activities.
   • Establish and maintain automated programs as well as a hard file system to track the accreditation program.
   • Provide guidance, direction, and answers to technical questions related to CALEA standards.
   • Interpret new and/or revised standards and their impact on the agency's accreditation effort.
   • Review new and proposed changes to department general orders and procedures manual for compliance with CALEA standards.
   • Provide training on the Accreditation Process.
   • Act as liaison between the department and CALEA, NC CALEA organizations, as well as with other agencies.
   • Ensure CALEA required reports are complete and submitted in a timely manner.
   • Maintain department CALEA files and ensures they are kept up to date with proofs and written directives as required by CALEA.
   • Attend staff meetings to review departmental operations and provide updates on the accreditation process as needed.
   • Oversee and manage departmental CALEA budget.
   • Provide the Chief of Police with periodic updates on the Accreditation process.
   • Attend national and local CALEA training conferences as needed.
   • Submit required annual reports to CALEA on departmental compliance.