Specialized Training Fund Grant

The Wisconsin Department of Justice, through its Division of Law Enforcement Services (DLES), administers the Law Enforcement Specialized Training Grant to support certified law enforcement, jail, and secure juvenile detention officers throughout the state. DLES serves as the State Administering Agency for both federal and state criminal justice funds and is responsible for setting funding priorities, creating application criteria, and evaluating grant effectiveness. For the fiscal year 2026, the Law Enforcement Specialized Training Fund aims to bolster the skills and capacities of officers in Wisconsin by funding high-quality, specialized training initiatives. The purpose of this grant is to address emerging and advanced training needs among certified officers. Training proposals must focus on filling specific skill or knowledge gaps that impact officer performance and public safety. Funding is available for eligible entities including Wisconsin law enforcement agencies, nonprofit associations, and Wisconsin technical colleges that provide direct training to officers. The primary goal is to strengthen law enforcement effectiveness, mental health, cultural competency, and inter-agency collaboration. Training efforts must be statewide in impact and offer equitable access to participating officers across Wisconsin. Allowable expenses under this grant are narrowly focused on direct instructional service costs. These include instructor fees and travel, as well as instructional materials distributed during training. Ineligible expenses include venue rental fees and any food or beverage costs associated with the training event. Awarded funds must be used by June 30, 2026, and reimbursement requests must be submitted no later than July 15, 2026. The total funding pool available for FY26 is approximately $350,000, and funds are awarded on a reimbursement basis following successful application approval and event execution. Applications are reviewed in three rounds: August 1, December 15, and March 15, with each cycle corresponding to a fixed review date (e.g., March submissions reviewed by May 1). Importantly, all applications must be submitted and approved before the date of the proposed training. Applicants are limited to one submission per cycle. The application process requires completion of the Specialized Training Fillable Grant Application, an itemized budget form, an event agenda, and presenter biographies or organizational background information. All submissions must be sent via email to Program Manager Stacy Lenz at [email protected]. Evaluation of applications is conducted by the Specialized Training Advisory Committee through a competitive review process. Proposals are scored across four core areas: needs description (20 points), training design (50 points), training impact (20 points), and budget narrative (10 points). Additional points may be awarded for projects aligning with DLES priority areas such as officer wellness, community collaboration, and efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities. Successful applicants will be notified via mail, typically within 30 days following selection. Post-award requirements include submitting a class roster, event agenda or lesson plan, an invoice for reimbursement with supporting documentation, and the number of officers trained. These materials must be submitted within 30 days of the event’s conclusion. Any appeals regarding denied applications must be submitted in writing within 10 business days and include new, impactful information not previously provided. Final decisions on appeals rest with the Attorney General’s Office and the DLES Administrator.

Ensure clear narrative linkage between needs and training design; address DLES priorities to gain bonus points.