THE PROCESS

• An agency must apply to the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation to participate in the accreditation process.

• The agency will be required to demonstrate compliance with all applicable mandatory standards and not less than 80% of applicable non-mandatory standards.

• Proof of compliance with the standards is determined by an assessment team sent by the Commission, conducting an on-site review of the agency's own policies, procedures and practices.

• Assistance is available from the Commission in the form of sample policies, consultation with accredited agencies, and informal peer evaluation.

• Agencies remain accredited for a period of three years. After the three year period, they must be reaccredited.

FULL COMPLIANCE

An agency that is not currently accredited through CALEA will be considered a full compliance agency. The agency will be required to demonstrate compliance with all applicable mandatory standards and not less than 80% of applicable other-than-mandatory standards.

COMPARATIVE COMPLIANCE

The Florida accreditation program recognizes the national program, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). Florida agencies that are currently accredited by CALEA will not be required to build a separate set of files for any standards that are comparable to the state standards that have been already prepared for and approved by CALEA assessors. Florida accreditation assessors will check only those CALEA files that are necessary as directed by the Executive Director during the on-site.

APPLYING TO THE COMMISSION

Agencies must apply to the Commission in order to participate in the state accreditation process. Follow this link to find your program manager, and then you will have the option of either applying online electronically or printing an application to mail in.

THE COST OF ACCREDITATION AND REACCREDITATION

The following fee structure has been established for both accreditation and reaccreditation.

Number of Sworn Positions	Full Compliance Fee	Comparative Compliance Fee
9 or less	Donation	Donation
10 - 24	$500.00	$300.00
25 - 99	$1,000.00	$600.00
100 - 299	$2,000.00	$1,200.00
300 - 499	$3,000.00	$1,800.00
Over 500	$4,000.00	$2,400.00

The fee is based on the number of authorized full-time sworn law enforcement personnel who are acting in a law enforcement capacity. The fee is not based on non-sworn, corrections-sworn, or law enforcement certified personnel serving in a corrections position.

THE PROCESS

• A facility must submit an application to FCAC to participate in the accreditation process
  
  
• After receiving the application, two copies of the agreement will be forwarded for review and signature. 
  
  
• The facility must submit the accreditation fee upon signing the agreement.

Rated Capacity	Fee
0 - 49	$500.00
50 - 249	$1,000.00
250 - 1,000	$3,000.00
1,000+	$4,000.00

• The facility will then have two years to come into compliance with all mandatory standards and not less than 90 percent of the non-mandatory standards.
  
  
• Proof of compliance is determined by an assessment team sent by the Commission, conducting an on-site review of the agency's own policies, procedures and practices.
  
  
• It is recommended that all agencies perform a "mock" assessment prior to the actual onsite.  The selection of assessors for the mock team is determined solely by the candidate facility and all costs including meals, travel and per diem is borne by the facility.
  
  
• Once accredited, facilities remain accredited for a period of three years.  After the three year period they must be reaccredited.

THE PROCESS

• The Agency must submit an application to the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission to participate in the process.
  
  
• The CEO of the program signs an agreement that allows a two-year period to complete the process.
  
  
• Applicable fees are paid.

Jurisdiction Population	Cost
Up to 500,000	$1,500.00
500,001 to 999,999	$2,000.00
1 million to 2 million	$2,500.00
Over 2 million	$3,000.00

• The program conducts a self-assessment to determine levels of compliance with the standards.
  
  
• Specially trained assessors conduct an on-site assessment with a written report forwarded to the Commission.
  
  
• The CEO appears before a panel of Commissioners to answer questions or to clarify issues from the assessment report.
  
  
• The Commission then renders a decision based on the assessment report and results of the panel hearing.
  
  
• Accredited status is granted for a period of three years.  After the three year period the agency must be reaccredited.

THE PROCESS

• An Office of Inspector General Investigations (OIG) must apply to the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation to participate in the accreditation process.

• The OIG will be required to demonstrate compliance with all mandatory standards and not less than 80% of non-mandatory standards.

• Proof of compliance with the standards is determined by an assessment team sent by the Commission, conducting an on-site review of the OIG’s own policies, procedures and practices.

• Assistance is available from the Commission in the form of consultation with accredited law enforcement agencies, and informal peer evaluation.

• Agencies will remain accredited for a period of three years. After the three year period they must be reaccredited.
  

APPLYING TO THE COMMISSION

Agencies must apply to the Commission in order to participate in the Inspector General Investigation accreditation process. Follow this link to apply online electronically.

THE COST OF ACCREDITATION AND REACCREDITATION

The following fee structure has been established for both accreditation and reaccreditation.

Number of Investigators	Full Compliance Fee
1 - 3	$900.00
4 - 8	$1,500.00
9+	$3,000.00

The fee is based on the number of Investigators in each agency’s Office of Inspector General. The fee is not based on sworn or non-sworn personnel.