Specialty Courts Grant Program

The Specialty Courts Grant Program, administered by the Texas Office of the Governor's Public Safety Office (PSO), supports the development and operation of specialty court programs across the state. Authorized under Chapters 121 through 130 of the Texas Government Code, this initiative aims to enhance judicial outcomes by integrating treatment services into the justice system for populations such as veterans, individuals with mental health or substance use issues, and youth involved in the justice system. The program also includes funding to continue the operations of a statewide training and technical assistance resource center hosted at a public institution of higher education. This grant supports a variety of specialty court types including Adult Drug Courts, Family Drug Courts, Veterans Treatment Courts, Mental Health Courts, Juvenile Specialty Courts, Commercially Sexually Exploited Persons Courts, and Public Safety Employees Treatment Courts. Funding may be used for direct program support, professional development, and technical assistance efforts led by the Specialty Courts Resource Center (SCRC) at Sam Houston State University. The center plays a key role in gathering BeST Assessments (Best Practices Self-Assessments) from applicants, a required eligibility component for this opportunity. Applicants must be county governments affiliated with a registered specialty court or public institutions of higher education continuing SCRC operations. New specialty courts and those not currently funded by PSO may apply, provided they fulfill registration requirements per Section 121.002 of the Texas Government Code within 30 days of award. Additional eligibility requirements include compliance with state cybersecurity training, UCR data reporting, sexual assault evidence tracking, and federal immigration enforcement cooperation. Noncompliance in these areas can result in ineligibility or forfeiture of awarded funds. A key eligibility component is submission of a completed resolution from the applicant’s governing body and a signed CEO/Law Enforcement Certifications and Assurances Form. Applications without these documents will be disqualified. The application must also include documentation showing recent completion (within two years) of the BeST Assessment. Veterans Treatment Court applicants must further demonstrate prior PSO grant execution experience and staff training in military cultural competency via accredited entities. Applications open on December 15, 2025, through the PSO eGrants portal and are due by February 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM CST. Projects must begin on or after September 1, 2026, and cannot exceed a 12-month period. There is no maximum funding limit, but the minimum award is $10,000. While cost share is optional, applicants who include match funding are expected to adhere to it. Grantees must comply with the Texas Grant Management Standards (TxGMS) and applicable state and federal laws throughout the project. Applications will be screened for eligibility and completeness, followed by a merit review conducted in part by the Specialty Courts Advisory Council (SCAC). Projects will be scored on a 100-point scale with consideration given to best practice adherence, especially for adult drug courts, and the demonstrated need of the jurisdiction. Final award decisions rest with the Office of the Governor and may differ from requested amounts based on availability of funds and state priorities. For technical issues or further guidance, applicants may contact the eGrants help desk by email at [email protected] or by phone at (512) 463-1919.

Adherence to NADCP Best Practice Standards and robust reporting readiness are key scoring criteria.