Law Enforcement Training Scholarship Program

The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) offers the Law Enforcement Training Scholarship (LETS) Program, designed to bolster specialized investigative and law enforcement training for eligible Maryland entities. This program directly aligns with GOCPP's mission to enhance public safety by investing in the professional development of law enforcement and related personnel. By providing financial support for targeted training, LETS aims to improve the skills and capabilities of those on the front lines of crime prevention and investigation, thereby contributing to a safer Maryland. The primary beneficiaries of the LETS grant program are local and state law enforcement agencies, local State’s Attorney’s Offices, and the Maryland Attorney’s General Office. The program's impact goals are centered on elevating the expertise in critical areas such as crime scene investigation, laboratory procedures, data-driven policing, crime analysis, victim services/witness protection, and various investigative techniques. By focusing on these specialized fields, LETS seeks to equip law enforcement professionals with advanced knowledge and tools to combat crime more effectively. The program prioritizes courses and seminars that offer specialized training in investigation, crime prevention, fraud, waste and abuse, and crime analysis. It explicitly excludes courses leading to college credits, networking seminars, or generalized management training, ensuring that funds are directed towards highly specific, skill-building opportunities. This focused approach ensures that the scholarships directly address critical gaps in specialized law enforcement capabilities, reinforcing GOCPP's strategic priority of targeted capacity building within the criminal justice system. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of law enforcement personnel with enhanced skills in specialized areas, leading to improved investigative techniques, more effective crime prevention strategies, and better support for victims and witnesses. Measurable results could include the number of individuals trained, the specific skills acquired, and potentially, improved crime clearance rates or reduction in specific types of crime over time, though the direct causal link for the latter would require further tracking. The LETS program's theory of change posits that by directly funding specialized training, GOCPP can elevate the proficiency of Maryland's law enforcement community, ultimately leading to a more secure and just state. Scholarships can cover up to $5,000 per individual per course, with an agency's total fiscal year request capped at $5,000. This funding structure ensures that a broad range of agencies can benefit from the program while also managing resources effectively. The program's commitment to supporting essential, specialized training underscores GOCPP's strategic investment in human capital as a cornerstone of its crime prevention and public safety initiatives.