RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund

The RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund 2026 is administered by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. OCJS is the lead justice planning and assistance office for the state, managing both federal and state criminal justice funding. It oversees millions of dollars annually to support law enforcement initiatives, program evaluation, training, and best practices. The RecoveryOhio initiative, established under Governor Mike DeWine, was created to address the drug epidemic and related mental health crises through a coordinated, statewide response. This fund supports the recommendations of the RecoveryOhio Advisory Council and reflects Ohio’s commitment to both enforcement and recovery strategies. The purpose of the RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund is to provide resources to county, municipal, township, and village law enforcement agencies that operate as part of a drug task force. Funding supports building and strengthening partnerships between law enforcement, treatment, and education providers. The program emphasizes prevention, harm reduction, diversion, outreach, education, and quick response initiatives, while also defraying operational costs associated with drug law enforcement. Proposals focused solely on interdiction will receive lower scoring, as the program prioritizes recovery-oriented linkages in both narrative and budget justifications. Eligible applicants are limited to drug task forces whose implementing agencies participate in the Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System or Uniform Crime Reporting program. Applicants must comply with requirements to use Case Explorer through HIDTA for deconfliction, report monthly to the state’s DISCO system, collaborate with the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, follow Ohio Task Force Commanders Association best practices, and attend OTFCA meetings held twice annually. Furthermore, each application must designate a fiduciary agent that serves as a unit of local government, such as a county, municipality, township, or village. Law enforcement agencies themselves cannot serve as subgrantees. Applications are submitted online through the OCJS Grants Management System, which will open on September 8, 2025. The submission deadline is October 9, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. All applications must be in “submitted” status by the deadline. New applicants must register in the system before submission, while returning applicants may use existing accounts. Required proposal components include a problem statement, project description, objectives, timeline, organizational capacity, collaboration details, executive summary, and budget. Applicants must also upload their most recent external audit or financial report. Evaluation of proposals will be conducted by OCJS staff and Department of Public Safety personnel using a scoring matrix. Budgets will be reviewed for compliance with allowable costs. Priority will be given to applications that clearly link law enforcement efforts with RecoveryOhio strategies, such as prevention, harm reduction, naloxone availability, quick response teams, and support for first responders. Final funding recommendations will be made by the OCJS Executive Director and approved by the ODPS Director. Award notifications will be posted on the OCJS website and sent by email to successful applicants. The funding period runs from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027. Fiscal guidelines stipulate that lodging and meal costs must not exceed federal GSA rates, mileage cannot exceed state OBM rates, and fuel costs may only be requested for programmatic purposes. OCJS requires all subawardees receiving state payments by check to enroll in electronic funds transfer for efficient payment processing. Additional fiscal requirements include adherence to the Single Audit Act and federal uniform guidance regulations. Costs deemed unallowable by OCJS will not be reimbursed. For assistance, applicants may contact Amy Gillard at 614-466-1831 or ajgillard@dps.ohio.gov. Additional support is available through OCJS regional contacts, whose information is published on the OCJS website. This funding opportunity represents a continuation of Ohio’s effort to integrate law enforcement with community health responses, prioritizing strategies that address both public safety and recovery.