Accreditation

One of the hallmarks of a profession is the set of guidelines which defines its goals and objectives, provides efficient procedures for their attainment, measures accomplishments, and describes acceptable conduct of persons so engaged. The activities of professionals, from attorneys to zoo keepers, follow and are dependent upon such guidelines and the efficacy of their codification.

Over the years, and after considerable study, some 900 standards were established and a process developed which provides for the accreditation of an agency demonstrating voluntary compliance with the standards deemed applicable to that agency. On December 10, 1987, by Resolution No. 522-87, the Ontario County Board of Supervisors, recognizing the importance of having a benchmark with which our law enforcement activities could be compared, authorized commencement of the accreditation process.

From 1992 through 2000 the Ontario County Sheriff's Office was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Since 1993 the Sheriff Department's Law Enforcement Bureau has been accredited by the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. Accreditation was received from the New York State Sheriff's Association in 1994 for the Correction Bureau; in 1996 for the Civil Division in 2004 for the Emergency Communications Division (first one in the State) and in 2006 for the Court Security Division.  Each division has their own standards to comply with in addition to the general standards set forth for the entire department. The Ontario County Sheriff's Office is still one of a handful of counties across the state that has all 5 possible division accreditations.

The objectives of accreditation are to:

• increase agency capabilities to prevent and control crime;
• increase agency effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of services;
• increase cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement and with other agencies of the criminal justice system; and
• increase citizen and employee confidence in the goals, objectives, policies, and practices of the agency.

One of the results of accreditation is that a 600 page Manual of Instruction was created, giving guidance to department members regarding all facets of departmental operations, training and administration.  All accreditations are reviewed and updated at five year intervals to ensure continued compliance with all applicable standards.