GENERAL INFORMATION
The Law Enforcement Assistance Grant Program (LEAGP) was created by the Colorado legislature to allow law enforcement agencies to apply for grants up to the amount of money that the agency can establish it would have received except for Section 16-13-306.5 or 16-13-504.5 C.R.S. which limited receipt of forfeiture payments from federal agencies after August 9, 2017.
Eligibility: Seizing law enforcement agencies, as defined in Section 16-13-301 (2.7), eligible for reimbursement for money that the agency would have received except for section 16-13-306.5 or 16-13-504.5 C.R.S. One application per law enforcement agency per funding year will be permitted with the exception of law enforcement agencies serving as the fiscal agent for Multi-Jurisdictional Task Forces (MJTF) seeking reimbursement as individual agencies and then also as a fiscal agent of a MJTF.
Funds for which Requesting Reimbursement: Applicants can apply for reimbursement for the amount of funding the applicant would have received of the aggregate net equity value of the property and currency seized in a federal case which is fifty thousand dollars or less, where a forfeiture proceeding was commenced by the federal government, was related to a filed criminal case, and the declination of funds from the federal government occurred after August 9, 2017 due to Section 16-13-306.5 or 16-13-504.5 C.R.S. See instructions for more information on what is required for documentation on funds that have been declined due to 16-13-306.5 C.R.S.
AMOUNT AVAILABLE: There is up to approximately $1,000,000 available for grants in the 2022 Law Enforcement Assistance Grant program (LEAGP).
PURPOSE OF THE FUNDS: The purpose of the Law Enforcement Assistance Grant Program is for law enforcement agencies to apply for grants up to the amount of money that the agency can establish that it would have received except for Section 16-13-306.5 or 16-13-504.5 C.R.S. Broadly, grant money is to be used for operations and investigations, training and education, equipment and supplies, joint community-based programs, support of community-based programs, or any other purpose that would have been permissible under federal equitable sharing guidelines (see Guide to Equitable Sharing for State, Local, and Tribal Law Enforcement Agencies July 2018). Further, grant money can be used only to supplement and not supplant money received by the applicant agency from other sources.
C.R.S 16-13-306.5 - Limitations on receipt of forfeiture payments from federal agencies
(1) A seizing agency or participant in any joint task force or other multijurisdictional collaboration shall accept payment or distribution from a federal agency of all or a portion of any forfeiture proceeds resulting from adoption or a joint task force or other multijurisdictional collaboration only if the aggregate net equity value of the property and currency seized in a case is in excess of fifty thousand dollars and a forfeiture proceeding is commenced by the federal government and relates to a filed criminal case.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not be construed to restrict seizing agencies from collaborating with a federal agency to seize property that the seizing agency has probable cause to believe is the proceeds or instruments of a crime through an intergovernmental joint task force.
C.R.S. 16-13-504.5 - Limitations on receipt of forfeiture payments from federal agencies
(1) A seizing agency or participant in any joint task force or other multijurisdictional collaboration shall accept payment or distribution from a federal agency of all or a portion of any forfeiture proceeds resulting from adoption or a joint task force or other multijurisdictional collaboration only if the aggregate net equity value of the property and currency seized in a case is in excess of fifty thousand dollars and a forfeiture proceeding is commenced by the federal government and relates to a filed criminal case.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not be construed to restrict seizing agencies from collaborating with a federal agency to seize property that the seizing agency has probable cause to believe is the proceeds or instruments of a crime through an intergovernmental joint task force.
C.R.S. 16-13-301 - Definitions
(2.7) "Seizing agency" means any agency that is charged with the enforcement of the laws of this state, of any other state, or of the United States and that has participated in a seizure or has been substantially involved in effecting a forfeiture through the development of evidence underlying the claim for forfeiture or through legal representation pursuant to this part 3. The department of corrections, the division of parks and wildlife in the department of natural resources, and a multijurisdictional law enforcement task force shall be deemed to be included under this definition.
HOW TO APPLY
This will be a two-part application process. The application process opens on July 1, 2022 each year and runs through February 28, 2022.
STEP ONE - OPENS JULY 1, 2022
- Submit an Intent to Apply via ZoomGrants (due date: February 28, 2023)
- Show the total amount requested
- Provide the necessary backup documentation
DCJ/OAJJA staff and the LEAGP Working Group will review the request and supporting documentation to determine the amount eligible for reimbursement. Clarifying information may be requested from the applicant.
STEP TWO
You will be asked to complete a formal application, which provides details on how the funds will be spent.
Applicants must apply and submit their 2022 LEAGP Application online.
This will be a two-part application process.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
Seizing law enforcement agencies, as defined in Section 16-13-301 (2.7), eligible for reimbursement for money that the agency would have received except for section 16-13-306.5 or 16-13-504.5 C.R.S.
One application per law enforcement agency per funding year will be permitted with the exception of law enforcement agencies serving as the fiscal agent for Multi-Jurisdictional Task Forces (MJTF) seeking reimbursement as individual agencies and then also as a fiscal agent of a MJTF.
QUESTIONS
ZOOMGRANTS: Contact Lyndsay Clelland at cdps_dcjgms@state.co.us
LEAGP PROGRAM: Contact Kelly Abbott or 303-239-5717.