Commission Overview

Standardization of training for state justice officers began in the early 1970's in response to a growing need for increased accountability and credibility. Two advisory councils laid the groundwork throughout the 1970's by adopting minimum employment and basic training standards. At this time, all criminal justice officers in the state were included under the council's regulatory authority. Under Chapter 17C of the General Statutes, the two councils were dissolved to create the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission on January l, 1980. Sheriffs and their deputies continued under the jurisdiction of this Commission until September 1983, when the General Assembly established a separate Sheriffs' Commission with the passage of Chapter 17E. North Carolina is the only one of the fifty states which has a separate regulatory body - governed only by Sheriffs - responsible for the employment, training, and certification of Sheriffs' personnel.

Minimum employment, training, and retention standards for law enforcement and criminal justice officers in North Carolina is divided between the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and the NC Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission. The Sheriffs' Commission covers deputies, detention officers, telecommunicators, while the Criminal Justice Commission covers other law enforcement, corrections, youth services, local confinement, and radar operators. Company Police are commissioned by the Attorney General who adopts the Criminal Justice Commission minimum standards by reference. Mandated training curricula for the Commission are prepared, updated, and distributed by the NC Justice Academy and delivered locally by the Department of Community College institutions or larger law enforcements agencies.

The responsibilities of the Sheriffs' Commission include, but are not limited to, the certification of all deputy sheriffs, detention officers, and telecommunicators employed in the 100 Sheriffs' Offices in this state, and the establishment, maintenance, and upgrading of acceptable courses of training for these officers. Guidelines for these responsibilities are set forth in the Commission's Administrative Code, Title 12 NCAC, Chapter 10B. While the telecommunicator certification is mandatory for those under the direct control and supervison of the Sheriffs, the Commission has also agreed to certify telecommunicators who are employed by municipal agencies, city/county communication centers, and state law enforcement agencies, etc.