Accreditation is a self-initiated process by which police agencies voluntarily strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the law enforcement profession by the profession.

The program establishes standards on best practices for police agencies to adopt. Agencies then establish written directives and procedures for their personnel to implement. Standards dictate which topical areas an agency must have policies and procedures, leaving the agency’s chief executive officer and supervisory staff to develop and enforce agency-specific policies and procedures. Most of the Commission’s standards require agencies to commit their often-unwritten policies and procedures to writing. The remaining standards are equipment or facility related (generally found in communication centers, holding facilities, and property rooms).

The process begins with a thorough self-examination by the agency to determine its compliance with program
standards. The “self-assessment,” or the internal review initiated by the agency’s chief executive officer, is
followed by an external peer review by Commission-appointed assessors.

The Commission grants two awards: Certification and Accreditation. Assessments for Certification are generally
conducted in two days by two assessors. Assessments are conducted under the supervision of an Assessment
Team Facilitator or Team Leader. Assessments for Accreditation are typically conducted in three days by three
assessors. Both assessments are similar in purpose to line and staff inspections in that they monitor compliance
with standards and provide a timely means for corrective action when necessary.

Certification includes only mandatory standards. Accreditation is comprised of mandatory and optional
standards. All the Certification standards are a part of the mandatory standards for Accreditation.

Achieving Certification or Accreditation means that the agency has agreed to adopt our program’s standards as a way of doing business.

That said, being certified or accredited means that:

It is important to note that the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program does not certify or accredit Police
Chiefs, Accreditation Managers, or any other individuals in the agency; it certifies and accredits the agency.

The program is also not a performance evaluation of any individuals in the agency. Instead, it is a measure of a
police agency’s policies and procedures — typically verifying that the agency has specific directives and
processes covering various aspects of its operations.

Voluntary Nature:

Participation in the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program is voluntary. Agencies may or may not
participate in the program as they wish. They may withdraw from the program at any time during the
process, without prejudice, upon written notice to the Commission. The Commission promotes the
concept of voluntary self-regulation and encourages maximum participation in the program.