Aligning with professional associations is beneficial, whether you’re looking to expand, consolidate, or enhance your agency. While these organizations may have different goals, they’re all united in serving the general public. We’ve compiled a list of associations dedicated to serving the interest of public safety agencies nationwide. Enjoy!
APPA is an international association composed of members from the United States, Canada, and other countries actively involved with probation, parole, and community-based corrections in both adult and juvenile sectors. All levels of government are counted among its constituents.
The ACA serves all disciplines within the corrections profession and is dedicated to excellence in professional development and certifications. The organization assists in networking, consulting, research, publications, conferences, exhibits, technology, and testing in the corrections field.
The AJA is a national organization that exists to support those who work in and operate our nation's jails, and is the only national association that focuses exclusively on issues specific to the operations of local correctional facilities.
IAFC is a powerful network of more than 12,000 chief fire and emergency officers. Their members are the world's leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation.
IAFF’s more than 263,000 members are full-time, professional fire fighters and paramedics who protect the lives and property of 80% of the nation's population.
The NVFC represents the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of volunteers and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation.
Founded in 1913, AJS is an independent, non-partisan, membership organization working nationally to protect the integrity of the American justice system. AJS’s diverse and broad membership—including judges, lawyers, and members of the public—promotes fair and impartial courts through research, publications, education, and advocacy for judicial reform. The work of AJS focuses primarily on judicial ethics, judicial selection, access to justice, criminal justice reform, and the jury system.
The ABA is one of the largest professional associations in the world, with nearly 400,000 members. The ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public.
The largest organization of court management professionals in the world, NACM has over 2,000 members from the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries from all levels and types of courts. NACM provides court management professionals opportunities to increase their proficiency while working with colleagues to improve the administration of justice.
NCSC provides technical assistance and consulting services to all levels of courts nationwide. Projects can include short reviews and assessments of administrative policies and procedures, long-term studies and evaluations with policy recommendations, and direct assistance in setting up or modifying programs and services. Its court consulting services also help courts find external sources of technical assistance.
NDAA is the oldest and largest professional organization representing criminal prosecutors in the world. Its members come from the offices of district attorneys, states’ attorneys, attorneys general, and county and city prosecutors with responsibility for prosecuting criminal violations in every state and territory of the United States. Its mission is to serve as a nationwide, interdisciplinary resource center for training, research, technical assistance, and publications reflecting the highest standards and cutting-edge practices of the prosecutorial profession.
IACLEA provides educational resources, advocacy, and professional development services of campus public safety for its more than 1,200 educational institution members and 2,000 individual members.
The IACP is the world's oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization of police executives, with more than 19,000 members in over 89 different countries. The IACP's leadership consists of the operating chief executives of international, federal, state, and local agencies of all sizes.
MCCA is a professional association of chiefs and sheriffs representing 63 of the largest law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and seven largest in Canada. MCCA is dedicated to influencing national public policy on law enforcement matters, enhancing the development of current and future leaders, and encouraging and sponsoring research.
The MCSA is a professional law enforcement association of elected sheriffs representing counties or parishes with populations of 500,000 or more. The MCSA is dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of law enforcement strategies to address future problems and identify law enforcement challenges facing members.
NBSCAB represents bomb squad commanders on more than 450 accredited bomb squads in the U.S. and serves approximately 2,500 certified bomb technicians on those squads, as well as various federal agencies.
NCJA represents state, tribal, and local governments on crime prevention and crime control issues. Its members represent all facets of the criminal and juvenile justice community, including individuals in law enforcement, corrections, prosecution, defense, courts, victim-witness services, and educational institutions, as well as federal, state, and local elected officials.
NSA is dedicated to enabling sheriffs, deputies, chiefs of police, and others in the field of criminal justice to perform their jobs in the best possible manner and to better serve the people of their cities, counties, or jurisdictions.
The NTC consists of 42 member associations in 38 states representing over 40,000 state troopers nationwide. The NTC is the only national organization that solely represents the interests of state trooper and highway patrol associations.
The NTOA’s mission is to provide law enforcement a communications resource for SWAT, patrol, crisis negotiations, and other units that support the resolution of critical incidents; a national law enforcement information resource library; comprehensive law enforcement research support; and credible training programs and journals.
The OJP provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems by disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge and practices across America and providing grants for the implementation of these crime fighting strategies.
PERF is a national membership organization of progressive police executives from the largest city, county, and state law enforcement agencies. PERF is dedicated to improving policing and advancing professionalism through research and involvement in public policy debate.
