Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP)

In order to ensure that all of the nation’s Sheriffs and their key partners have functional, all-hazards Continuity of Operations plans, the National Sheriffs’ Association has developed this multi-faceted process that includes both the Continuity of Operations Planning for Sheriffs: Preparation and Reference Guide and the Continuity of Operations Planning for Sheriffs Planner’s Workbook: Pandemic Version. Recognizing that our Sheriffs have numerous legal and ethical responsibilities in their communities and that these responsibilities often impact a wide variety of other organizations, this process not only outlines a generic COOP for all-hazards events but also highlights contingency plans for specific incidents.

For learning purposes and to assist them in preparing for a pandemic event, this process focuses specifically on two sub-topics: pandemic events, and their impact on court operations. It is hoped that after establishing a baseline with these targeted topics, the COOP will be expanded to include all operational aspects of the organization and its interactions with all partner organizations. This Continuity of Operations Planning for Sheriffs Preparation and Reference Guide is specifically designed to assist Sheriffs in building Continuity of Operations plans for their organizations. While this document is designed to provide important foundational information on the process of developing an all-hazards Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), its companion piece, the Continuity of Operations Planning for Sheriffs: Planner’s Workbook Pandemic Version, specifically includes materials and examples to assist Sheriffs in developing Continuity of Operations plans while working with judges and court administrators to plan, prepare for, and respond to a local pandemic event.

> Reports

COOP Final Report

COOP (pdf document)