Law Enforcement Accreditation

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office demonstrates a commitment to professional excellence through accreditation. The Sheriffs’ Office received its first initial accreditation from CALEA in 2015, ACA and NCCHC in 2016. Achieving these three accreditation show the Sheriff’s office is complying with the requirements of the accreditation process and is indeed a statement of a high level of commitment to the community.

Only by attaining simultaneous accreditation, through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement (CALEA); the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections (CAC) of American Correctional Association (ACA); and, the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) does a sheriff’s office receive this most prestigious award, the Triple Crown.

It is with great honor to say that the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Richard Roundtree received the “Triple Crown status” with the National Sheriffs’ Association on June 26, 2017. We are one of only 44 sheriffs’ offices in the United States to have attained this status and one of only 10 internationally accredited Sheriff’s Offices in Georgia.

CALEA Accreditation assists the Sheriff’s Office in demonstrating that we have met and maintain established professional standards through a uniformed set of policies and procedures that clearly define the authority and responsibilities, strengthening our accountability to the county we serve. CALEA Accreditation lowers liability risks and assists in the agency’s pursuit of professional excellence.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office undergoes CALEA on-site assessment every four years demonstrating that internationally-recognized standards have been met and are being maintained by verification from a team of independent CALEA trained assessors. We continue to successfully operate in the spirit of those standards. The Sheriff’s Office submits annual reports to the Commission which include a summary of our continued commitment to the accreditation process.

CALEA Law Enforcement Accreditation deals with six major law enforcement areas: (1) role, responsibility, and relationships with other agencies, (2) organization, management, and administration, (3) personnel administration, (4) law enforcement operations, operational support, traffic law administration, (5) detainee and court-related services, (6) auxiliary and technical services.

CALEA Accreditation Standards:

Require an agency to develop a comprehensive, well thought out, uniform set of written directives. This is one of the most successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to personnel.
Provide the necessary reports and analyses a CEO needs to make fact-based, informed management decisions.
Require a preparedness program be put in place—so an agency is ready to address natural or man-made unusual occurrences.
Area a means for developing or improving upon an agency’s relationship with the community.
Strengthen an agency’s accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a continuum of standards that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities.
Limits an agency’s liability and risk exposure because it demonstrates that internationally recognized standards for law enforcement have been met, as verified by a team of independent outside CALEA-trained assessors.
Facilitates an agency’s pursuit of professional excellence.

CALEA Public Comment Portal

The purpose of this public comment portal is to receive comments regarding Richmond County Sheriff's Office compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. Comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the Richmond County Sheriff's Office with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence.

Click here to leave a comment on the CALEA website

Please visit the CALEA website at for further information CLICK HERE
For a list of CALEA Standards please CLICK HERE