VIRGINIA SHERIFFS INSTITUTE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM HANDBOOK FOR SHERIFFS AND DEPUTY SHERIFFS

Transcription

1 VIRGINIA SHERIFFS INSTITUTE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM HANDBOOK FOR SHERIFFS AND DEPUTY SHERIFFS Introduction The Certification Program advances the professionalism of local government officials and their staffs and is administered by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, University of Virginia, under the auspices of the Virginia Sheriffs Institute. This handbook gives complete information on the professional Certification Program for Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs that was adopted on June 28, Committee Members John Jones, Executive Director, Virginia Sheriffs Association Albert Spengler, Director, Certification Programs, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia Robin de Socio, Executive Director, State Compensation Board Sheriff Lenny W. Millholland, City of Winchester, Chairman Sheriff Jack Weisenburger, City of Bristol Sheriff Anthony W. Roper, Clarke County Sheriff Thomas D. Jones, Charlotte County Sheriff Robert J. McCabe, City of Norfolk Sheriff Steven L. Dye, Russell County Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 1

2 Table of Contents I. Purpose of the Program Page 3 II. Designation of Professional Titles Page 3 III. Administration of the Program Page 3 IV. Definitions Page 4 V. General Rules & Eligibility for Certification Page 6 VI. Requirements for Initial Certification Page 6 A. Mandatory Courses Page 7 Exam Retakes Page 7 Course Exemptions Page 7 B. Continuing Education Page 8 Elective Courses Page 8 VII. Requirements for Re-Certification Page 9 Annual Requirements Page 10 Failure to Meet Annual Requirements Page 10 Failure to Meet 2 year Period Requirements Page 10 Continuing Education Point Options Page 10 VIII. Standards for Judging Education Programs Page 13 IX. Presentation of Professional Designation Certificates Page 14 X. Application Deadline & Fees Page 14 Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 2

3 I. Purpose of the Program The Certification Program is designed to advance the professionalism of sheriffs and deputy sheriffs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The office of sheriff, like other professions, requires special study, knowledge, and skills. The constituency that is served by the sheriff and his/her staff deserves a high level of professional competence. This Certification Program is designed (a) to set forth regulations and standards that recognize professional attainment, and (b) to meet and update those standards. The Certification Program will: Assure the public of the basic knowledge and competency of the sheriffs and deputy sheriffs Assure the sheriffs and deputy sheriffs of reasonable professional recognition Assure professional advancement and acknowledgement of the competency of sheriffs and deputy sheriffs by their colleagues in the field of municipal law enforcement. When properly implemented, the Certification Program will lead to acceptance as law enforcement professionals by the public, the business community, the academic society, and the field of criminal justice. II. Designation of Professional Titles A professional Certification Program is hereby established. Sheriffs completing the Certification Program shall be designated as Master Sheriff. Deputy Sheriffs completing the Certification Program shall be designated as Master Deputy Sheriff. III. Administration of the Program The Certification Program shall be administered by the University of Virginia s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service and the University s School of Continuing and Professional Studies under the auspices of the Virginia Sheriffs Institute. The Institute, in conjunction with the Center, shall prescribe the standards sheriffs and deputies in Virginia must meet in order to be recognized as Master Sheriff or a Master Deputy Sheriff. Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 3

4 All records of the Certification Program shall be kept at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. All correspondence dealing with the Certification Program should be directed to the designated Center staff member. The Center shall also be the official record keeper, responsible for maintaining accurate, updated records for use by the membership of the Virginia Sheriffs Institute. The records will remain the property of the Virginia Sheriffs Institute. The Certification Review Committee is a committee consisting of six (6) voting members of the Virginia Sheriffs Institute appointed by the President of the Virginia Sheriffs Institute. The Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all applications for certification and recertification, and for hearing appeals of decisions on certification and re-certification. IV. Definitions As used in this set of regulations and standards, unless the context clearly shows otherwise, these terms or phrases have the following meanings: Application Form: Association: Center: A form to be completed and sent to the Center once the participant has met the requirements to be certified or re-certified Virginia Sheriffs Association also known as VSA. Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia Certification Year: Period from November 16 to November 15 of the following year Elective Courses: Include, but are not limited to VSI elective courses shown in full on page 8, other new Institute courses as developed, as well as approved National Sheriffs Association/National Sheriffs Institute, American Correctional Association, American Jail Association, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, US Marshals Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 4

5 Service, the Virginia Executive Institute and other courses approved by the Center and the Virginia Sheriffs Institute. Enrollment Form: Institute: A form to be completed and sent to the Center in order to begin participating in the Certification Program Virginia Sheriffs Institute also referred to as VSI. Legislative Committee: The Legislative Committee is responsible for considering all matters relating to legislation affecting the office of sheriff in Virginia. It consists of the Association Board of Directors plus a chairman and eight (8) others appointed by the President of the Association. Mandatory Courses: Courses required to be taken and examination passed in order to partially meet the full requirements of initial certification. Please see mandatory course listing (Section VI, Part A). Member in Good Standing: A member is considered to be in good standing if VSA membership dues are kept current and is a voting member of the VSI. Related Fields: Sheriff: Jail, law enforcement, criminal justice services, legal administration, government, political science, public administration, technology, course services, and civil process. All duly elected sheriffs in the Commonwealth of Virginia Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 5

6 V. General Rules & Minimum Criteria for Certification In order to qualify for certification and to maintain certified status, sheriffs and deputy sheriffs must meet the following minimum criteria: Be an elected or appointed official (appointed only in regard to vacancy in office) or appointed deputy sheriff. Must have been a member of the Association and a voting member of the Institute (deputy sheriff must be employed in a VSI member sheriff s office) for at least two years prior to the time of application for certification and remain a member in good standing. Must believe in and practice the Code of Ethics adopted by VSI. Enroll in the program by submitting a completed enrollment form to the Center and paying the $75.00 enrollment fee. Once the educational requirements in Section VI have been met, must submit a completed certification application form to the Center and pay the remaining certification fee. VI. Requirements for Initial Certification In addition to meeting the general rules and minimum criteria for certification in Section V, sheriffs must meet the following educational requirements: Earn 70 points/credits from Parts A and B of this section All sheriffs and deputy sheriffs must complete 8 courses. Each sheriff and deputy sheriff must complete a minimum of 5 mandatory courses. The number of mandatory courses that must be completed (includes taking and passing the exam) will vary depending on the functions of the office. See Part A for the list of the mandatory courses. November 15 is the cut-off date to meet the initial certification requirements in any given year. There is no time limit to achieve initial certification. Participants may take as long as necessary to complete the initial certification requirements. The points earned for certification, as outlined in Parts A and B, below can only be earned beginning July 1, Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 6

7 On November 15 of each year, the Center generates a list of those sheriffs and deputy sheriffs who meet the certification requirements. The Certification Review Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving each application for initial certification. Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs approved by the Certification Review Committee are considered certified as of November 15 of that year. After approval by the Committee, the list of certified sheriffs and deputy sheriffs will be released to the membership. Appeals concerning decisions of the Certification Review Committee must be made to the Committee within fifteen business days of publication of the list of certified sheriffs and deputy sheriffs. Part A Mandatory Courses Roles & Responsibilities of the Sheriff (required for all sheriffs and deputy sheriffs) Roles & Responsibilities of the Sheriff Part II (for those with law enforcement duties) Roles & Responsibilities of the Sheriff Part III (for those with jails) Ethics Accounting Manual (Auditor of Public Accounts) Lawful Employment Virginia Government and Law Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs will earn 4 continuing education points for each mandatory class completed. Once all mandatory classes have been taken and passed, the sheriff and deputy sheriff will have earned a minimum of 20 points towards the 70 points necessary for initial certification. Exam Retakes If a participant fails an exam, he/she may retake the exam once at no additional charge. If failed a second time, the participant must retake the course. After the initial course attendance, the registration fee for the same course will be set to cover the cost of meals and updated course materials only. Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 7

8 Course Exemptions Department of Criminal Justice Service credit will apply as follows: Court Services will equal Roles & Responsibilities of the Sheriff Part I Law Enforcement will equal Roles & Responsibilities of the Sheriff Part II Jails will equal Roles & Responsibilities of the Sheriff Part III Part B-Continuing Education Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs will earn the remaining points needed to reach a minimum of 70 points required for Certification by attending VSI/VSA conferences and meetings, VSI/VSA elective courses, affiliated associations classes, and events and other approved training. Sheriff Conferences and Meetings Members may earn continuing education points by attending the following: Sheriff Elective courses: 1. Sheriffs Association Annual Conference [7 to 9 points] 2. VSI Annual Spring Conference [6 to 9 points] 3. Other conferences approved by the Institute and the Center [points will vary] Elective courses are typically 1 point per course hour unless otherwise indicated. Horse Sense for Leaders Spanish for Law Enforcement Officers Business Ethics Effective Leadership General Technology Other courses as developed and approved Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 8

9 Training Members may earn continuing education points by attending various training programs including but not limited to the following: 1. Compensation Board s New Officer Training [8 to 12 points] 2. Other Compensation Board Sponsored Training [4 to 8 points] 3. VSI New Sheriff Orientation (VSI) {10-14 points) 4. Judicial Threat Assessment Symposium (VSI and US Marshal Service) 5. National Sheriffs Institute First-Term Sheriffs Conference Meetings 6. FBI National Academy For credit to be awarded for the following meetings, a copy of the agenda and proof of attendance must be submitted to the Center. Examples of proof of attendance would be a signin roster supplied by the sponsoring organization or a certificate of attendance. Other 1. National Sheriffs Association Annual Conference 2. Virginia Center for Policing Innovation (VCPI) 3. Actively serving and participating on the VSA Legislative Committee 4. Other meetings approved by the Institute and Center [Varies] The participant should verify with the Center that the following will qualify for credit before taking the class. Proof of attendance will be required before credit will be granted. 1. Class in the field of Law Enforement-1 point per credit hour 2. Class in the area of social and interpersonal concerns-1/2 point per credit hour 3. Class in the field of computers and software-3 point maximum per class 4. Other training offering CPE credits Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 9

10 VII. Re-Certification 5. Additional Ethics courses The re-certification process takes place over a 4-year period with annual continuing education requirements. Annual requirements must be met by November 15 of the year. On November 15 of each year, the Center generates a list of those sheriffs and deputy sheriffs who meet the annual and 4 year re-certification requirements. The Certification Review Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving each application for re-certification. Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs who are approved by the Certification Review Committee are considered certified as of November 15 of that year. After approval by the Committee, the list of certified sheriffs and deputy sheriffs will be released to the membership. Appeals concerning decisions of the Certification Review Committee must be made to the Committee within fifteen (15) business days of publication of the list of certified sheriffs and deputy sheriffs. Requirements Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs seeking re-certification are required to achieve a 4-year period cumulative continuing education point s total of eighty (80) or above. At least 50% of all period required points for re-certification must come from Association/Institute sponsored programs. Participants are also required to meet cumulative minimum requirements for continuing education points each year while working toward re-certification. The point levels are established on a tiered basis. Points earned over the minimum tier for each year will carry over to help the participant meet the following year s requirements: Year 1 12 continuing education points Year 2 24 continuing education points (cumulative between years 1 & 2) Year 3 40 continuing education points (cumulative between years 1, 2, & 3) Year 4 80 continuing education points (cumulative for all 4 years) Participants are allowed to roll over accumulated points in excess of the 4 year re-certification requirement from one re-certification period to the next up to twenty (20) points (25% of the 4- year requirement). For example, if a sheriff or deputy sheriff has earned 90 points at the end of the 4 year re-certification period, ten (10) points will be carried over to the next re-certification period. Please note, no points are allowed for rollover from initial certification. Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 10

11 Failure to meet the annual requirements If a participant does not earn the required minimum number of points for a given year, he/she will be suspended from certified status and may lose career development funding as a result. In order to be reinstated, the participant will need to reach the next tier of points by November 15 of the next year. For example, if a sheriff or deputy sheriff has not earned twelve (12) points by November 15 of Year 1, he/she would be suspended from certified status. In order to be reinstated, the sheriff or deputy sheriff would need to have earned twenty four (24) points by November 15 of Year 2. Failure to meet the requirements at the end of the 4-year period rolling window reinstatement procedure If the participant fails to meet the continuing education point s requirement at the end of the 4- year period, he/she will be suspended from certified status and may lose career development funding as a result. The participant will then be subject to a rolling window reinstatement procedure. The 4-year re-certification window will automatically become the last 4 years. As of November 15 of the next year, the participant s points for the current year and the 3 years prior will be reviewed. If the participant meets the re-certification requirements at that time, he/she will be considered re-certified and will begin the process of re-certifying again from the beginning. If the participant does not meet the re-certification requirements, the rolling window would then be shifted to the next year, and again, points for the then current year and the previous 3 years will be reviewed. Please note: Once Career Development funding has been lost as a result of certification suspension, it will not be automatically reinstated. The sheriff will be placed back in the queue to receive funding as it comes available. Continuing Education Point Options Institute/Cooper Center/Compensation Board Courses All courses are typically 12 points or 1 point per credit hour unless otherwise posted. Please remember that exams are required for initial certification and for all online courses. Exams are not required when taken for re-certification; however, you will receive 1 additional point for taking the exam and 1 more additional point for passing the exam. Classes can be retaken for credit as long as 4 years has lapsed between enrollments. NOTE: Points will need to be determined for all courses as they are developed. TAV/VGFOA/Comp Board Courses Continuing Education Points CE points with Exam CE Points plus Passing Grade Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 11

12 Roles & Responsibilities of the Sheriff Part I Roles & Responsibilities of the Sheriff Part II Roles & Responsibilities of the Sheriff Part III Business Ethics (online only) Accounting (APA course) Effective Media Relations General Technology Lawful Employment Horse Sense for Leaders Spanish for Law Enforcement Officials VA Government & Law *Course fees may be involved. Association/Institute Conferences and Meetings Members may earn continuing education points by attending the following: Training 1. Sheriffs Association Annual Conference [7 to 9 points] 2. VSI Annual Spring Conference [6 to 8 points] 3. Other conferences approved by the Certification Review Committee [varies] Members may earn continuing education points by attending various training programs including but not limited to the following: 1. Compensation Board s New Officer Training [8 to 12 points] 2. Other Compensation Board Sponsored Training [4 to 8 points] 3. VSI New Sheriff Orientation (VSI) {10-14 points) 4. Judicial Threat Assessment Symposium (VSI and US Marshal Service) 5. National Sheriffs Institute First-Term Sheriffs Conference Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 12

13 Meetings For credit to be awarded for the following meetings, a copy of the agenda and proof of attendance must be submitted to the Center. Examples of proof of attendance would be a signin roster supplied by the sponsoring organization or a certificate of attendance. 1. National Sheriffs Association Annual Meeting 2. Virginia Center for Policing Innovation (VCPI) 3. Actively serving and participating on the Legislative Committee 4. Other meetings approved by the Institute and Center [Varies] College and University Courses in the following concentrations: 1. Law Enforcement 2. Criminal Justice 3. Public Administration All others may be submitted to the Curriculum Committee Chairperson for approval. Other The participant should verify with the Center that the following will qualify for credit before taking the class. Proof of attendance will be required before credit will be granted. 1. Class in the field of law enforcement and criminal justice-1 point per credit hour 2. Class in the area of social and interpersonal concerns-1/2 point per credit hour 3. Class in the field of computers and software-3 point maximum per class 4. Other training which offers CPE credits Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 13

14 VIII. Standards For Judging Education Programs The following guidelines must be met for continuing education credit through colleges or universities to be recognized: 1. Educational programs should be supervised by an accredited institution of higher learning or by a government agency. Programs offering CEUs should also be approved by an accredited university or college. 2. Attendance at class sessions is required of all students enrolled. Attendance rosters and/or similar forms shall be used for keeping accurate attendance records. No credit for attendance will be given for a certain activity unless the session is attended in its entirety. 3. The contact hours (number of clock hours spent in instruction) shall be distributed over the major curriculum areas as follows: a. At least 50% of the hours should be in law enforcement and criminal justice, or duties related to the Sheriff s Office. b. The remaining hours, if any, should be in areas of social and interpersonal concerns, such as: Written and oral communications Personnel management, including individual motivation & work production Human relations Office programming & management Community & public relations Personal growth & development of the sheriff Ethics in government IX. Presentation of Professional Designation Certificates Once the sheriff or deputy sheriff has met all of the requirements for certification or recertification, an appropriate certificate shall be presented to him/her from the Institute and the Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 14

15 Center. Certificates for initial certification will be presented at the Institute Spring Conference the following year. Certificates for re-certification will be mailed to the qualified recipients following approval of the list by the Certification Review Committee. X. Application Deadline & Fees Applications for certification must be received at the Center by November 15 to ensure adequate time for review by the Certification Review Committee. Sheriff Initial Certification Deputy Sheriff Initial Certification Sheriff Re-Certification Deputy Sheriff Re-Certification Original amount due $ Less: Deposit at enrollment Net amount due at certification $ Original amount due $ Less: Deposit at enrollment Net amount due at certification $ Amount due at certification $ Amount due at certification $75.00 Certification Program Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Page 15