The Professional Standards and Compliance Unit has two main functions within the SBI. 

The first function is conducting and coordinating certain public corruption and government official misconduct investigations, as well as, conducting SBI Internal Affairs investigations.

Upon a valid request from a district attorney or United States attorney, the SBI conducts investigations into public corruption and government official misconduct involving public officials, public agencies and higher-ranking law enforcement agency officials. These officials may include state legislators, U.S. congressmen, elected members of the Council of State, judges, district attorneys, sheriffs and police chiefs. 

The Unit is responsible for investigating for the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission on a statewide basis, as well as conducting investigations for which there may be a conflict of interest for the other Bureau field districts.  This unit also conducts any other criminal investigations as assigned by the assistant director of Professional Standards. 

The second function of the Professional Standards and Compliance Unit is conducting staff and evidence inspections and maintaining the SBI CALEA Accreditation. 

The SBI uses the inspection program to support management’s efforts to maximize the use of SBI resources and to satisfy the SBI’s high standards by assessing the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness, evaluating the quality of the SBI’s operations, identifying the need for additional resources and ensuring that control is maintained throughout the agency. 

The Unit is responsible for ensuring the SBI is following national standards set forth by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and has maintained accreditation since 1995.

The Special Agent in Charge of the Professional Standards and Compliance Unit coordinates and oversees all investigations, inspections, and accreditation processes.