Cost to enroll

The annual fee is based on agency size and the maximum allowable complement or budgeted total number of full-time police officers in the agency.

NOTE – if any agency has vacant positions for their total allowable number of full-time officers, those vacancies are included when determining the total amount of the fee invoiced. The cost is pro-rated by the total number of months remaining in the fiscal year for enrollment after the start of the current fiscal year.

< 10 Full-time police officers

$975

10-25 Full-time police officers

$1,800

26-75 Full-time police officers

$2,300

75 > Full-time police officers

$2,900

For information on MIIA’s Rewards Program, Contact MIIA’s Loss Control Department : (617) 426-7272

Program Phases

Upon deciding to participate in the program, agencies must complete the Program Application and return it to the Commission with their Application Fee. The Program Application and Invoice consist of two parts. Part I requests information about the agency, and Part II deals with the agency’s eligibility to participate in the program. Annual fees are invoiced on a fiscal year basis: July 1 – June 30, and their payment is required to continue in the program.

Upon receipt of a signed Program Application, MPAC Staff will arrange a call or meeting with an applicant agency’s CEO to verify their participation eligibility and discuss entry into the program.

As part of the Application Phase, agencies are required to appoint an Accreditation Manager (AM). This position is responsible for managing the agency’s Accreditation process and is the agency’s primary liaison with the Commission on all matters concerning Accreditation. A sample job description is available from MPAC, identifying the position’s primary duties and responsibilities.

The Accreditation Manager position should not be viewed as the sole agency employee responsible for compliance and adherence to our program’s requirements. Instead, the entire agency, under the CEO’s guidance and supervision, must actively participate in compliance with our program. The Accreditation Manager manages and coordinates compliance areas of responsibility with all employees to build and maintain an agency’s accreditation files.

Upon receipt of the agency’s application, the chief executive officer and the accreditation Manager will be provided access to the Commission’s Member Network Website (MPACnetwork).

Cost to Enroll in the Program

The annual fee is based on agency size and the maximum allowable complement or budgeted total number of full-time police officers in the agency.

NOTE – if any agency has vacant positions for their total allowable number of full-time officers, those vacancies are included when determining the total amount of the fee invoiced. The cost is pro-rated by the total number of months remaining in the fiscal year for enrollment after the start of the current fiscal year.

There are four agency-size categories:

Full-time Police OfficersFY2024’s Annual Fee
<10$975
10-25$1,800
26-75$2,300
75 >$2,900

This phase of the process involves a thorough examination by the agency itself. It is the most labor-intensive and time-consuming phase of the process because the activities in this phase initially begin with a comprehensive review of the standards and include all the activities associated with preparing for the agency’s on-site assessment. The primary activities in this phase include (1) analyzing each standard to determine agency compliance, (2) achieving agency compliance where non-compliance is determined, and (3) documenting and centralizing agency compliance for the assessors to review. In addition, corrective action generally involves policy writing, minor facility adjustments, and sometimes equipment purchases.

Agencies in self-assessment may be required to attain at least a Certification Award within the Commission’s established deadlines.

NOTE – As our program moves forward under the 6th Edition Standards and Program Requirements, previous guidance that indicated that there “are no time limits for achieving initial Certification” may no longer be applicable. However, any agency in self-assessment will be notified of updates and the specific deadline requirements as they are established with consideration of a reasonable time frame for the agency to achieve at least initial Certification.

This phase of the process is designed to give agencies an indication of their readiness. The focus should be to confirm preparedness to be assessed by Commission-appointed assessors. It involves two preliminary reviews, submission of an application for Certification or Accreditation, and completion of a required mock assessment on all applicable standards.

The Application Phase: This phase begins with reviewing an agency’s readiness for assessment and compliance with program requirements and standards necessary for an on-site assessment by MPAC Staff. As requested, agency rosters, organizational charts, compliance logs, etc., documentation will be included for review by MPAC Staff with all applications.

Mock Assessment: Under the 6th Edition Program, mock assessments are mandatory. The agency arranges a mock assessment. It serves as a dry run for the agency. Mock assessments allow agency personnel to interact with assessors relative to their respective areas of responsibility and to identify and address problem areas (weak or lacking compliance documentation) before the Commission conducts an assessment.

The evaluation process for Certification or Accreditation consists of a multi-day assessment at the agency’s facility(s) by a trained team of assessors assigned by the Commission. The assessors are tasked with verifying compliance with all applicable standards and program requirements.

An on-site begins with an introductory meeting between agency personnel and the Assessment Team, the conducting of a tour of the agency’s facility(s), a review of agency files, and concludes with an agency exit briefing by the Assessment Team to summarize their findings and recommendations to the Commission.

Certification:
Certification is the first tier or level of our program. It is highly recommended that an agency exits self-assessment in our program by first attaining Certification. The standards established for the Certification program allow an agency to transition from self-assessment in a measured way with a reduced totaled number of standards based on essential functions and areas of focus for the agency.

Certification is not a lesser program. Obtaining Certification first can aid an agency in assessing the increased number of standards required to attain Accreditation. Once Certification is achieved, the decision if or when to move from Certification to Accreditation is based on that individual agency’s specific needs or limitations.

Achieving Accreditation upon Certification:
Agencies are not required to achieve Accreditation upon Certification. Instead, they may be re-certified at the end of their three-year re-assessment period; however, if an agency elects to pursue Accreditation upon Certification, it may do so under the following potential timelines:

Complete a three-year re-assessment period while certified and come into compliance with accreditation requirements at their next scheduled on-site assessment, or
During the first twelve months after an agency’s first time being certified, enter the Accelerated Accreditation Program as noted below, or
Request an accreditation assessment at any point during a three-year re-assessment period.
NOTE – a request for an accreditation assessment before the end of the three-year re-assessment period is not guaranteed to occur within the time requested. These requests will only be granted based on consideration of the availability of an Assessment Team and other previously scheduled assessments.

Accelerated Accreditation Program (AAP):
If an agency’s assessment for initial Accreditation occurs within twelve months of its assessment for Certification, only a select group of Certification standards and the additional mandatory and optional standards for Accreditation will be reviewed. Typically accelerated assessments will be conducted in two days by two assessors under the supervision of a facilitator or team leader.

There are no extensions granted in the AAP. If the agency’s assessment for initial accreditation assessment goes beyond the twelfth month, all the Certification standards, along with all additional mandatory and a percentage of optional accreditation standards, will be reviewed, and the assessment will be conducted in three days by three assessors under the supervision of a facilitator or team leader.

Accreditation:
Accreditation is the second tier or level of our program. It encompasses all the Certification standards along with additional mandatory and a percentage of optional accreditation standards. Accreditation is best accomplished upon completing an agency’s Certification to meet all readiness and program-related requirements.

If an agency wishes to enter directly into Accreditation from self-assessment, they may request to do so in writing to the Executive Director. They will provide an application for initial Accreditation to MPAC Staff that focuses on verification and confirmation of readiness by the agency to skip Certification. If approved, a department would then be assessed for Accreditation on all the Certification standards, additional mandatory accreditation standards, and a percentage of optional standards.

Re-assessments for Accreditation will occur every three years during the month of the agency’s last on-site. So, for example, if an agency had its last on-site in January of 2023, its next assessment would occur in January of 2026.

Once the on-site assessment is complete and all required file repairs, including updates, changes, and/or additions to agency written directives and written documentation, MPAC Staff will complete reports of the agency’s performance. These reports are forwarded to the Commission. The Commission will review the agency’s assessment based on the findings and recommendations of the Assessment Team and Commission staff. The Commission votes in advance of scheduled meetings when awards are issued. In addition, they may vote to approve or deny Certification or Accreditation based on the totality of information provided and confirmation of compliance with all standards and program requirements.

The Commission is the sole determining body whether an agency receives a Certification or Accreditation Award. 

Appeal of Commission Decisions: 

There are no appeal options for the Commission’s decision to award an agency Certification or Accreditation; the Commission’s rulings and votes are final.

When all requirements for Certification or Accreditation have been met and awarded by the Commission, the agency is invited to attend the Commission’s next regularly scheduled meeting. Meetings to review agencies and present awards are held three times per year in February, June, and October – and are referred to as the Winter, Summer, and Fall meetings.

Award Period:
Certification and Accreditation Awards are granted for three-year periods. The agency’s anniversary date is the month (February, June, or October) and year in which the Commission presents the award.

To avoid any lapse in status, an agency must complete its on-site assessment and review before its award anniversary date. Failure to successfully achieve Recertification or Reaccreditation on or before the agency’s anniversary date without written approval from the Commission authorizing an extension will cause the agency’s award status to lapse. As a result, the agency may be placed back in self-assessment or removed from the program by the Commission.

Upon completing their first assessment under the 6th Edition during an agency’s re-assessment period, annual status reports are required at the first and second anniversary of an award date and a mid-point review with the agency monitoring compliance with standards during the three-year award period.

Annual Status Reports:
Annual Status Reports are required on the first and second anniversaries of an agency’s award date, commencing with an agency’s first 6th Edition Award. These reports are completed using a template provided by the Commission. They are not intended to be voluminous or burdensome but to provide updates on critical areas during an agency re-assessment. The Accreditation Manager completes the agency’s Annual Status Reports. The chief executive officer will review, sign, and submit the report to the Executive Director. Once the MPAC Staff reviews the completed report, they will contact the agency’s chief executive officer to arrange a meeting or conference call to discuss the information submitted in the annual status report and the agency’s continued progress toward Recertification or Reaccreditation.

Mid-point Reviews:
Agencies are fully expected to monitor and evaluate their compliance with program standards during the three-year award period and take all necessary steps to re-establish compliance with standards when non-compliance is discovered. In addition, as part of verifying continued compliance, a mandatory mid-point review is scheduled for eighteen (18) months after an agency’s first 6th Edition Award.

MPAC Staff conducts mid-point reviews to assist agencies in monitoring program compliance during the three years between their assessments. This review involves reviewing time-sensitive reporting requirements, confirmation of compliance with new or updated standards, and a random sampling of standards checklist compliance of written directives and any required associated written documentation or “proofs” of compliance.

Assessment Period Extensions:
An agency may request an extension with cause for an assessment to extend the time frame when their next on-site is scheduled.

Extensions may be granted on a limited basis to assist an agency with completing accreditation file construction or maintenance. They are not given to allow an agency to take a pause or break in their ongoing compliance with standards and program requirements. Extensions are not automatically granted and must be supported with specific reason(s) or the need for an extension.

If an agency needs to request an extension, the CEO will send a written notice to the Executive Director, who will arrange a call or meeting to review the request. Any documentation supporting the request for an extension should also be included with an agency’s written notice.

Extension periods are granted in four-month increments to coincide with the Commission’s meeting schedules and award periods. The Executive Director may give an extension for one award period, or four (4) months, with documentation of progress supplied by the agency during the agreed-upon time of the extension. The Commission must approve any extension beyond four (4) months or one Commission Meeting Period.

All extensions will require compliance documentation and progress reporting at set intervals as set forth by MPAC Staff. If an agency fails to meet the agreed-upon extension period as granted, it will be subject to re-entry into self-assessment or suspension.

Once an extension is granted, rescheduling arrangements must be made early to the Director of Field Operations and Assessment Coordinator. Regardless of the agency’s assessment and Commission review during an extension, its original award date (anniversary date) remains the same. Scheduling future assessments after an extension is based on an agency’s original award date.

Agencies are fully expected to monitor and evaluate their compliance with program standards during the three-year award period and take all necessary steps to re-establish standards compliance when non-compliance is discovered. To assist agencies in their monitoring of standards compliance in between assessments, mid-point reviews will be conducted by the Commission and the results reported to the Commission. The Commission’s Checklist for Time-Sensitive Action Items will be used to conduct this review.