GlossaryStaffing, accountability, and public reporting
Accreditation
Accreditation is formal recognition that an organization has met the requirements of a particular accrediting program through its assessment process.
Accreditation is formal recognition that an organization has met the requirements of a particular accrediting program through its assessment process. In public safety, it may concern an agency, communications center, training academy, or other specified function. It does not certify that every future action will comply with law or produce a particular outcome.
Read the program and scope
Pennsylvania State Police's CALEA explanation describes voluntary compliance with program standards and identifies the accrediting organization. Other programs have their own requirements and scope. The accreditor's name and awarded program should accompany a claim of accreditation.
A department can also participate in a process without having received an award. Applying, conducting a self-assessment, undergoing review, and holding accreditation are different statuses. A public announcement should preserve those distinctions.
Example
Hypothetical example: An agency announces accreditation for its communications function. A resident reads the announcement as certification of every police investigation conducted by the agency.
That interpretation exceeds the award's stated scope. The accreditation concerns the named program and assessment requirements. It does not decide whether an individual investigation was proper or whether a particular use of force was lawful.
Common confusion
An individual officer's certification or license differs from organizational accreditation. One concerns the person; the other concerns an organization or function under program standards.
A consent decree is a court order arising from a legal resolution. Accreditation is a recognition process and cannot be treated as proof that court obligations have been satisfied.
Current status
Check the accrediting body, program, award date, status, and any later changes. Do not infer a renewal deadline or universal standards count without the applicable current program documentation. An older award notice may document a historical achievement without establishing today's status.