As a not-for-profit, multi-national, public safety accrediting body, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) is dedicated to the development and maintenance of critical law enforcement standards. These constitutionally grounded and portable set of standards are structured to complement the needs of the public, while also providing a foundational blueprint to support public safety agencies in the voluntary pursuit of excellence through the process of accreditation.
Within our model, law enforcement standards are applied to develop sound policies, make data-driven decisions, and implement appropriate technologies, equipment, and training. CALEA believes, Standards Build TRUST and Standards are ACTION, and these standards serve as tools for continuous organizational improvement, progressiveness, accountability, and adherence to the constitutionally protected rights of those served.
Governed by a 21-member commission composed of public safety leaders, academicians, state and local elected officials, judicial officials, state and local government officials, and other subject matter experts, CALEA ensures its standards dynamically consider changes in the professional environment. This includes consideration for legal findings and updates, case law, emerging evidence-based practices and research, technological advancements, and the importance of ongoing community engagement.
Public Safety agencies voluntarily choose to seek CALEA Accreditation and enter a three-year period of self-assessment which invokes policy development and revisions, evaluation of internal processes, and the collection of documentation of applicable efforts. At the end of the self-assessment period, if the agency meets the rigorous, third-party review by CALEA, the agency is awarded CALEA Accreditation and then begins an annual agency review cycle in order to maintain its accredited status.