The Banks County Sheriff’s Office has earned accreditation through the Office of Sheriff Accreditation Program, becoming one of the first five counties in Georgia to achieve the recognition.
The accreditation, bestowed through the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, is granted for the department’s commitment to upholding high standards of professionalism in law enforcement, according to the Banks County Sheriff’s Office.
The voluntary program is designed to assess and acknowledge top practices specific to the duties of the Office of the Sheriff.
To achieve accreditation, officials say the sheriff’s office underwent a rigorous evaluation process, which included comprehensive assessments of policies, procedures and operations. The evaluations covered a range of areas, including on-site inspections.
It also gauges whether operations are conducted in line with the Constitution, Georgia statutes and case law.
The accreditation process also focuses on five key areas:
- Sex Offender Module
- Law Enforcement Module
- Detention Module
- Courthouse Module
- Administration Module
“The Office of the Sheriff Accreditation Program, established by the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, aims to promote exceptional professionalism and credibility,” Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed said. “Through evaluations and a commitment to continuous improvement, this program equips Sheriffs’ offices to achieve excellence, building trust in every interaction. We are proud to have received this accreditation for our agency and our citizens.”
