Glossary

Defined terms from the Administrative Manual, Fifth Edition, 2026.

Accreditation Manager: The person designated by the chief executive officer of the law enforcement agency to administer and oversee the accreditation program for the agency.
Arrest: Per Black's Law Dictionary: to deprive a person of his or her liberty by legal authority.
Biannually: Occurring twice a year.
Biennially: Occurring every two years.
Bimonthly: Occurring once every two months.
Bullet: An itemized listing of multiple components within a standard statement, in alphabetized form, containing multiple mandates. Each bullet must stand alone when establishing compliance with the standard, with the proofs of compliance identified by every specific alphabetized requirement.
Chain of command: Formal lines of communication going downward or upward within the organizational hierarchy of the law enforcement agency through each successive level of command.
Chief executive officer: The duly authorized and designated top administrator of the law enforcement agency. The chief executive officer (CEO), or the Chief/Sheriff, is the highest-ranking executive for the law enforcement agency who possesses ultimate command authority for the operation of the agency.
Civilian: A non-sworn person who has no arrest or police powers, employed or working for the law enforcement agency.
Compliance folder: A file folder identified by a standard number which contains, in order, the standard statement, compliance form, directive proofs of compliance, and documentary proofs of compliance.
Custody: Legal or physical control of a person in the keeping or care of the law enforcement agency.
Detainee: A person in the legal custody of the law enforcement agency, through arrest and custody, usually in a holding cell area within the agency.
Evidence: Materials or things discovered or retrieved from a crime scene or other law enforcement incident.
Extra-duty employment: The secondary, outside-the-agency employment of a law enforcement officer where the actual or potential use of law enforcement powers is expected or possible.
Field training: A program for recruit officers designed to enable them to apply classroom knowledge in closely supervised on-the-job situations.
Holding cell areas: A place commonly used for the temporary detention of prisoners for processing and awaiting arraignment. Holding cell areas are specifically used to securely house prisoners within the location of the law enforcement agency.
Narrative: The narrative located below the standard statement, which serves as a guide regarding the intent of the standard. It is solely for clarification and is not a binding part of the standard.
Patrol: The utilization of law enforcement agency personnel to provide the many and varied services to the public.
Personnel: All sworn and non-sworn members employed and working on behalf of the law enforcement agency.
Pursuit: An active attempt by law enforcement officers operating a law enforcement vehicle to apprehend the occupants of a motor vehicle when the driver of the vehicle is resisting the apprehension by ignoring audible or visual signals to stop by the pursuing officer, or by evasive tactics.
Restraining devices: Law enforcement equipment designed to restrict the mobility or movement of a prisoner, such as handcuffs, flex-cuffs, ankle chains, or other such devices.
Selection: The agency procedures for choosing employees based on a known and established system.
Standard: A recognized, measurable, and necessary professional requirement setting criteria for a specific process, function, service or procedure for law enforcement agency compliance. It establishes necessary provisions requiring adherence to the standard statement.
Standard Compliance Form: A Commission-produced form, to be completed by the agency, which lists each required specific numerical standard to document compliance with the standard.
Sworn law enforcement officer: An employee of the agency who has the power and authority of the State of Mississippi, the political subdivision, or any other specified statutory entity to possess and exercise the powers of arrest or other law enforcement duties as specified by law or ordinance.
Temporary holding area: A location within the law enforcement agency which is used for a brief period of time to process, question, arraign, or test individuals who are in the custody or care of the law enforcement agency. These areas would only be used for a brief time until the processing is completed, prior to the release of the person or until the person appears before a member of the judiciary.
Written directive: Any written document used to guide or affect the performance or conduct of agency personnel. The term includes policies, procedures, rules and regulations, general orders, special orders, memoranda, and instructional materials.