Effects of Law Enforcement Accreditation

Abstract

For many years, law enforcement administrators, government officials, and researchers have explored the possibility of professionalizing law enforcement agencies and their officers. Some have called for mandatory college education requirements while others have argued for the formation of a national police force. In 1979, police practitioners from various law enforcement executive organizations met to develop a process to professionalize police agencies by instituting standards covering the wide range of police functions. The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) was born. This book describes the results of a study that evaluated the impact of CALEA accreditation on specific personnel administration practices in municipal police departments. The author compares accredited and non-accredited departments for personnel practices including procedures for officer selection, promotion, and the integration of formal education requirements.