The Broward County Sheriff's Office is committed to maintaining the standards of a modern, progressive law enforcement agency. A solid accreditation program is fundamental in achieving this goal. Compliance with well researched and established practices and procedures assures the public the law will be applied and observed with equity and professionalism. In an agency as large as this one, the benefits derived from this thorough self-examination are many. Inside the agency, there is an assurance that all personnel and operational guidelines are current and continually monitored. The public also benefits from this higher level of accountability, consistency of leadership, agency management and service delivery.

Our Division of Policy & Accountability is tasked with conducting on-going reviews of operational guidelines and policies. They assess the agency's effectiveness in productivity and service levels as well as how it measures up to prevailing public safety practices and management philosophies. All of this research and comparative study is then consolidated into an agency profile, which is reviewed every three years by national and state accreditation teams. Our citizens also have an opportunity for input during these review sessions. Over the years, the Broward County Sheriff's Office has achieved exemplary accreditation ratings which is a source of pride for all of our members who serve this community.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office became accredited in 1995.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is awarded to a public safety agency upon demonstration of voluntary commitment to public safety excellence by living up to a body of standards deemed essential to the protection of life, health, safety, and rights of the citizens it serves and having exemplified the best professional practices in the conduct of its responsibilities. Accreditation is the certification by an independent reviewing authority that an entity has met specific requirements and prescribed standards.

Accreditation means to recognize an agency or institution as conforming to a body of standards related to a specific discipline. Law enforcement agency accreditation has been designed and developed by Accrediting Organizations as a voluntary concept, process, and status.

The accreditation concept has a long history in our nation in schools and hospitals. Accreditation has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.

The Broward Sheriff obtained the following State and National accreditations:

• American Correctional Association. (ACA) 1995, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2016
  
  Next Assessment: 2025
• Florida Correction Accreditation Commission - Corrections. (FCAC) 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021
  
  Next Assessment: 2024
  
• National Commission on Correctional Health Care. (NCCHC) 1995, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2021, Next Assessment: 2024 (DOD Medical Monitor). 

Community Programs

• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities (CARF) 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2022, Next Assessment: 2025
  
• Florida Correction Accreditation Commission - Pretrial. (FCAC) 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023
  
  Next Assessment: 2026 

Crime Lab

• ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). 2016, 2019, 2023

          Next assessment: March 2025

Biometrics

• ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board – Forensic Inspection (ANAB) 2017, 2020, Next Assessment: 2023 

Training

• Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission

Regional Communications

• Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program (PSCAP) 2010, 2013, 2016, 2020 (for four years)
  
  Next Assessment: 2024
• Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO).  2012, 2015, 2018, 2022. 
  
  Next assessment: 2025 

Fire Rescue and Emergency Services

Purchasing

• National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023

Goals of Accreditation

• To strengthen crime prevention and control capacities
• To formulate essential management procedures
• To establish fair and non-discriminatory personnel practices
• To improve service delivery
• To solidify interagency cooperation and coordination
• To boost citizen and staff confidence in the agency

Benefits of Accreditation

GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY

Ensures the agency has policies that are updated and current to the needs of the community, along with sound training, clearly defined lines of authority, a system of checks and balances, and routine reports that support decision making and resource allocation.

GREATER GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT

Provides evidence of the agency's commitment to excellence in leadership, resource management and service delivery, thus ensuring more confidence in the agency's ability to operate effectively and meet community needs.

INCREASED COMMUNITY ADVOCACY

Embodies the concepts of community-oriented policing. It creates a forum in which police and citizens work together to prevent crime. This partnership helps citizens understand the challenges confronting law enforcement and gives law enforcement clear direction about community expectations.

PROTECTS EMPLOYEES AND CITIZENS

Ensures all patrol deputies have the same protective equipment. Requires internal affairs investigations to be conducted properly. Promotes fair hiring and promotional practices.

STRONGER POSITION IN LAWSUITS

Enables agencies to better represent themselves in lawsuits, possibly help reduce liability costs, and assist with citizen complaints.  

OUTSIDE AGENCY REVIEW

Involves a Mock and On-Site Review by law enforcement professionals from other parts of Florida and the United States. They visit and carefully examine all of the law enforcement functions of the agency to ensure that all 500 accreditation standards are being followed.

RECOGNITION FOR EXCELLENCE

Provides objective evidence of an agency's commitment to excellence in leadership, resource management, service delivery, and to adhering to a body of stringent standards, which represent the very best in law enforcement today.

For more information about BSO's accreditations, please call the Division of Policy & Accountability at 954-831-8930