Law Enforcement Workforce Recruitment, Retention, and Tuition Grant Program

The mission of the Division of Criminal Justice is to improve the public safety of the community, the quality of services to crime victims, and the effectiveness of services to offenders. We accomplish this by analyzing policy, conducting criminal justice research, managing programs, and administering grants.

To assist Law Enforcement Agencies in addressing workforce shortages, improve the training given to POST certified Peace Officers; and improve relationships between Law Enforcement and impacted communities

Resource: SB22-145

C.R.S. 24-33.5-528. Law enforcement workforce recruitment, retention, and tuition grant program

1. Recruit, pay the tuition for, and train individuals to work in POST certified law enforcement careers;
2. Increase the number of persons receiving training as POST certified and non-certified law enforcement personnel and improve the training provided to such persons;
3. Improve the training provided by entities approved for providing training by the peace officer standards and training board, referred to in this section as "approved POST Board trainers", by enhancing their curriculum to expand mental health, implicit bias, cultural competency, critical incident, de-escalation, and trauma recovery training and increasing the availability of workforce mobility; 
4. Provide continuing education opportunities for POST certified and non-certified law peace officers, and increase activities intended to foster a more positive relationship between law enforcement and impacted communities.

Examples of best practices: President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice Report

$7,262,000

Where 20% must go to Law Enforcement Agencies in rural counties and municipalities with a population of fewer than 50,000 persons, wholly located either east of Interstate 25 or west of the continental divide.

January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024

A match is not a requirement for this funding.

The Advisory Committee encourages applicants to show a commitment from either local governments or other funding committed by partner agencies for this project to support sustainability.

A law enforcement agency shall use the grant money to supplement the costs of recruitment and training. A local government or law enforcement agency may not use the grant money to supplant these costs.

A law enforcement agency may not use the grant award to cover the costs of eligible law enforcement officer salaries and benefits if the eligible law enforcement officers would have been hired by the law enforcement agency even if the division had not awarded the law enforcement agency the grant.

• Colorado law enforcement agencies, including those serving rural municipalities and counties
• Tribal law enforcement agencies that serve fewer than fifty thousand residents
• Third-party membership organizations on behalf of a law enforcement agency
• Any state institution of higher education, as defined in section 23-18-102 (10), that operates a law enforcement academy

The Advisory Committee will evaluate applications on the following criteria:

• How the grant would improve and support P.O.S.T-certified and non-certified peace officer recruitment and retention;
• Compliance of the applicant with all relevant state and local laws or a demonstration of how the applicant will come into such compliance;
• Sustainability of the project after the grant ends; and
• If the grant includes activities that are likely to foster a more positive relationship between law enforcement and the impacted community.

The Law Enforcement Workforce Advisory Committee will meet and make funding recommendations in Mid-late October. 

Applications that are denied funding may submit an appeal within 3 days of notification, however, appeals may only contain clarifying information specific to the reasons noted in the denial notification and can not contain new information. 

If awarded, grantees will receive additional information regarding administrative requirements.

The grantee will be required to submit financial and programmatic reports describing how the grant funds were utilized, including data and other relevant information on performance metrics. These reports will be required quarterly and on or before August 1, 2023, and August 1, 2024. Performance metrics will be outlined at the time of the award.

Announcement date: August 18, 2022

Application deadline: September 15, 2022

Funding decision announced: Mid-October

Reconsideration/appeals deadline: Approximately 3 days following Denial Notification

Grant Agreement Issuance: Mid-Late December

Award Period: January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024

• SB22-145 Resources To Increase Community Safety
• Application Instructions 
• FAQs

Anna Lopez
Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, OAJJA
700 Kipling Street
Denver, CO 80215
Direct: 720-582-2091
E-mail: anna.lopez@state.co.us

If you experience problems or have questions about how to use ZoomGrants, please contact dcjgms@state.co.us.

The State of Colorado is committed to providing equitable access to our services to all Coloradoans. The Division of Criminal Justice is committed to making its physical campus and digital resources accessible to everyone. The Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) strives to ensure equal access to the services we provide to everyone with and without disabilities. To best meet reasonable accommodation needs for effective communication or a reasonable modification to programs, services, or activities, please contact us a week prior to the activity or event.

DCJ will make every effort to provide requested reasonable accommodations, however, failure to notify DCJ of requested accommodations at least 3 business days prior to the date of the activity or event date may result in delay or denial of the accommodation.