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.

Resource:  SB22-145 Resources to Increase Community Safety

To provide grants to law enforcement agencies to increase the number of POST-certified and non-certified law enforcement officers who are representative of the communities they serve and to provide training for those additional law enforcement officers.

Resource:  SB22-145 and SB-23-277

C.R.S. 24-33.5-529. State's mission for assistance in recruiting and training (SMART) grant program

1. To increase the diversity of P.O.S.T.-certified and non-certified law enforcement professionals and public safety employees to better reflect the community in which they work.
2. To cover costs associated with eligible law enforcement officers' salaries and benefits, recruitment, and training. 
3. Provide opportunities for POST certified and non-certified law peace officers to receive training in equity, diversity and inclusion;
4. Provide, or assist in the provision of child care for peace officers;
5. Create partnerships with schools, school districts, colleges or universities to develop and implement internship or mentorship programs for students interested in a career in law enforcement;
6. Create partnerships with schools, school districts, or youth-services organizations to develop and implement youth programs to foster a positive relationship between youth and law enforcement and to foster early interest in law enforcement careers;
7. Develop and implement education campaigns for law enforcement workforce recruitment, retention and tuition assistance;
8. Implement any other strategy demonstrated to recruit, train and retain a high-quality and diverse law enforcement workforce if deemed appropriate by the Division.
    

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

$3,091,034 

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.

If future funding becomes available, continuation requests for salary and benefits may be reduced on a declining basis in subsequent years.

October 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025

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.

• County or municipal law enforcement agencies, including those serving rural jurisdictions, which for this section means a county or municipality with a population of fewer than fifty thousand people according to the last federal census
• Tribal law enforcement agencies
• Third-party membership organizations on behalf of a law enforcement agency 

The Advisory Committee will evaluate applications on the following criteria:

• How the grant would increase the number and training of P.O.S.T-certified and non-certified law enforcement officers who are representative of the communities they serve
• Sustainability of the project after the grant ends
• The breakdown of the percentage of money used for recruitment, training, and salaries and benefits, giving priority to salary and benefits
• Compliance of the applicant with all relevant state and local laws or a demonstration of how the applicant will come into such compliance
• Demographic data of the agency and how the grant would enhance diversity of the agency's workforce and ensure its workforce was reflective of the demographic of the community

The Law Enforcement Workforce Advisory Committee will meet and make funding recommendations in May 

Applications that are denied funding may submit an appeal within 5 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.

Sample Grant Agreements 

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, 2024, and August 1, 2025. Performance metrics will be outlined at the time of the award.

Announcement date: March 25, 2024
 

Application deadline: April 19, 2024
 

Funding decision announced: Mid May
 

Reconsideration/appeals deadline: Approximately 5 days following Denial Notification
 

Grant Agreement Issuance: October
 

Award Period: October 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025

DCJ Staff will hold informational sessions for the SMART Policing Grant Program via Zoom that will include addressing the eligible activities and providing technical support relating to the application.

Friday March 22, 2024 10-11am – Overview of the SMART Policing Grant Program
Tuesday March 26, 2024 noon-1pm – Office Hours
Wednesday April 3, 2024 1-2 pm – Office Hours
Monday April 8, 2024 9-10-11 am – Office Hours
Thursday April 18, 2024 1-2pm – Office Hours

Use this link to join.  
 

The SMART Policing Grant Program Announcement, Application and Application Instructions can be obtained through Colorado’s on-line application system, ZoomGrants.
 

Apply Now in ZoomGrants. 

Project applications must be submitted on or before FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2024 at 5:00PM MST. DCJ support ends at 5:00PM MST.  

PROJECT APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE.  

Failure to submit a complete project application may result in denial of funding.

We highly recommend applicants read all of the Application Instructions. Link to application instructions. 

The grant announcement, application, and instructions can be obtained in the library on ZoomGrants.
 

Robyn May
Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, OAJJA
700 Kipling Street
Denver, CO 80215
Direct: 303-842-3344
E-mail: robyn.may@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.