Virginia Law

A. An academy shall not conduct mandated training until the academy meets all certification requirements.

B. Training academies, all places of operation (i.e., satellite facilities, external training locations, firing range, driving course, etc.), and the records are subject to audit, inspection, and review by the department. Audits and inspections may be announced or unannounced.

C. The academy must formally request academy certification status from the department and meet the following requirements:

1. The department will establish a mutually agreeable date with the academy director and conduct the on-site assessment for academy certification.

2. The academy shall meet 100% of the academy certification standards identified in the DCJS Certified Criminal Justice Training Academy Certification Checklist and Report in each of the following categories:

a. Administration;

b. Personnel;

c. Facility;

d. Instruction; and

e. Satellite facility.

3. Certification is valid for one year from the date of certification.

a. In order to maintain certification status, the academy must successfully complete the academy recertification process before the expiration of the original certification.

b. The recertification will extend the expiration date to June 30 of the third year following the date of recertification.

D. If the academy does not meet one or more certification standards identified in the DCJS Certified Criminal Justice Training Academy Certification Checklist and Report:

1. The academy director will receive written notification of the certification standards that have not been met and the date when a reassessment will be conducted.

2. The department shall provide the written notification and date of reassessment within five business days of the last date of assessment.

3. The academy will be given time to correct the noncompliance, not to exceed 60 days.

4. Department staff shall reassess the academy. If the academy does not meet one or more of the certification standards upon reassessment, the department will provide written notification of the standards not met during reassessment to the academy director and agency administrator or board chairman of the academy. The academy will have a maximum of 30 days to comply with all certification standards.

5. A second reassessment will be conducted no later than 30 days following the first reassessment. If the academy is still not in compliance with all certification standards at the time of the second reassessment, the department shall not certify the academy.

6. The academy director may appeal the findings of the academy certification to the director. The decision of the director is final.

E. Academies failing to meet the certification requirements or losing on appeal shall restart the academy certification process identified within this section beginning with 6VAC20-90-70 C.