When crafting your agency’s policies, knowing when you can use the language directly from the accreditation standards—and when you need to expand on it—is critical.
First and foremost, accrediting bodies expect you to follow both the "letter" and the "spirit" of the standard.
Letter of the Standard: Follow exactly what the standard says, word for word.
Spirit of the Standard: Understand and comply with the intent behind the words.
Remember: Accreditation tells you the "what"; your agency decides the "how."
When the requirements are clear, direct, and specific, it’s generally safe to use the standard language in your policies.
Examples:
“A written directive requires that each member be accountable to only one supervisor at any given time.”
“A background investigation is conducted on civilian applicants hired by the agency. The investigation includes...”
These examples are straightforward: you can safely use the standard wording (especially right after the phrase "requires that").
When the standard uses words like:
"Describes"
"Identifies"
"Establishes procedures"
you are expected to expand upon the language and explain how your agency meets the requirement.
Examples:
"A written directive describes the agency’s inventory control system..." → You must describe your actual system (e.g., electronic database, asset tagging system).
"A written directive identifies the requisite skills, knowledge, abilities..." → You must spell out what your agency looks for in instructors.
"A written directive establishes procedures for levels of response to calls for service." → You must define the levels (Code 1, 2, 3, etc.) and detail response procedures for each.
In short: If the standard hints at a description, identification, or procedure, your policy must go beyond copying and actually explain your process.
Using the exact standard language is allowed, but not mandatory.
If your agency uses different terminology (e.g., "details" instead of "off-duty employment" or "secondary weapon" instead of "personally owned firearm"), that’s perfectly fine. Just clarify the equivalency if needed for assessors.
When in doubt—ask! I’m always here to assist you with interpreting standards for your policies.
Who do you know that could benefit from these accreditation-friendly tips and resources? Consider sharing this link with a colleague so they can sign up:https://www.accreditationacademy.net/signup
Areaka P. Jewell
Accreditation Academy
areaka@accreditationacademy.net
(305) 360-1075