Benefits of Accreditation

TO THE COMMUNITY

Accreditation increases the law enforcement agency’s ability to prevent and control crime through more effective and efficient delivery of law enforcement services to the community it serves.

Accreditation enhances community understanding of the law enforcement agency and its role in the community as well as its goals and objectives. Citizen confidence in the policies and practices of the agency is increased.

Accreditation, in conjunction with the philosophy of community policing, commits the agency to a broad range of programs (such as crime prevention) that directly benefit the public.

Accreditation creates a forum in which police and citizens work together to control and prevent crime. This partnership will help citizens to understand the challenges that confront law enforcement. Law enforcement will, in turn, receive clear direction from the community about its expectations. Thus, a common set of goals and objectives will be arrived at and implemented.

TO THE CHIEF OR SHERIFF

Increases cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies and other branches of the criminal justice system.

The accreditation process requires an in-depth review of every aspect of the agency’s organization, management, operations, and administration to include:

• establishment of agency goals and objectives with provisions for periodic updating;
• re-evaluation of whether agency resources are being used in accord with agency goals, objectives, and mission;
• re-evaluation of agency policies and procedures, especially as documented in the agency’s written directive system;
• correction of internal deficiencies and inefficiencies before they become public problems;
• the opportunity to re-organize without the appearance of personal attacks.

The accreditation standards provide norms against which agency performance can be measured and monitored over time.

Accreditation provides the agency with a continuous flow of Commission distributed information about exemplary policies, procedures, and projects.

Accreditation provides objective measures to justify decisions related to budget requests and personnel policies.

Accreditation serves as a yardstick to measure the effectiveness of the agency’s programs and services. The services provided are defined, and uniformity of service is assured.

Accreditation streamlines operations, providing more consistency and more effective deployment of agency manpower.

TO THE OFFICERS

Accreditation requires that agency policies and procedures are in written form and are available to all agency personnel at all times.

Accreditation assures employees that every aspect of the agency’s personnel system is in accord with professional standards, and that the system is both fair and equitable.

The agency is compelled to operate within specific guidelines. It is accountable to the Commission. The agency must stay in compliance with the standards set forth by the Commission in order to retain its accreditation.

The morale of the agency is enhanced by increasing the employees’ confidence in the effectiveness and efficiency of their own agency. Operations become more streamlined and consistent.

Accreditation standards address officer safety issues and provide for adequate training and equipment of the officers.

Accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence, and competence. Employees will take pride in their agency, knowing that it represents the very best in law enforcement.

The Florida Corrections Accreditation program offers the opportunity to evaluate your facility’s operations against standards developed by the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission. This process will allow administrative staff to remedy deficiencies and upgrade the quality of correctional programs and services. The benefits from such a process include:

• Improved management
  
• Strengthens the facility’s defense against lawsuits and complaints
  
• Increased accountability
  
• Enhanced public credibility for administrative and line staff
  
• A safer and more humane environment for personnel and inmates
  
• Potential reduction in liability through adoption of sound operating practices
  
• Demonstration of a “good faith” effort to improve conditions of confinement
  
• Establishment of measurable criteria for upgrading programs, personnel, and physical plant

The overall purpose of FCAC is to improve the delivery of correctional services. All aspects of Correctional operations are addressed through the standards, including: Admission, Classification, Housing, Sanitation, Food Service, Personnel Issues, Fiscal Activities, Security, Training and Medical.

• Participation in the accreditation process is strictly voluntary.
  
• Accreditation standards are derived primarily from the Florida Model Jail Standards.
  
• Standards are specific to the Florida Corrections profession and are compatible with Florida law.
  
• The process is designed to accommodate all facilities, from the smallest to the largest.
  
• Accreditation fees are based on the rated capacity of the facility being accredited.

The Florida Corrections Accreditation program offers the opportunity to evaluate your agency’s operations against standards developed by the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission, the Association of Pretrial Professionals of Florida and the Florida Association of Community Corrections. This process will allow administrative staff to remedy deficiencies and upgrade the quality of the agency’s programs and services. The benefits from such a process include:

• Potential reduction in agency liability from lawsuits 
• Standards are consistent with national best practices and will lead the way to establishing the most consistent and effective policy and procedures
• Allows for independent verification of business practices, which increases agency accountability 
• Increases uniformity within community supervision programs with reciprocal increase in public safety 
• Standards foster education resulting in improvements for all parties (defendant, agency, public)
• Accreditation program may foster program expansion due to increased recognition and credibility
• Agencies will operate consistently in terms of misdemeanor probation
• Increases judicial confidence in use of pretrial release program by providing standardized accurate information for release/detention decisions 

The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation offers the opportunity for the Inspectors General of Florida with an Investigations function to evaluate policies and procedures against the standards developed by the Chief Inspector General, the Inspectors General Workgroup, and Commission Staff. Accreditation of the investigation process within Offices of Inspectors General will significantly enhance the consistency and quality of these investigations. The benefits from such a process include:

• Provides a significant and tangible advance for professionalism within the Inspectors General function statewide.
  
• Ensures organizational and individual self-assessment, resulting in function accountability.
  
• Promotes congruency in protocols among offices resulting in enhanced quality of investigations.
  
• Strengthens defense against lawsuits and challenges.
  
• Provides opportunity to strengthen legislative confidence in Inspectors General process.
  
• Enhances reputation with public by achieving compliance with professionally recognized best business practices and standards.
  
• Promotes teamwork and an internal culture of professionalism.
  
• Identifies administrative and operational redundancies.
  
• Provides a vehicle for overcoming resistance to change.
  
• Expands networking opportunities and information resources through direct affiliation with CFA’s Commission and FLA-PAC.
  
• Offers national recognition for initiating the first state Inspectors General accreditation program.