Criminal Justice Grants

Law Enforcement Apprenticeship Program (LEAP)

UPDATED 10/3/2025: All available funding has been claimed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact OCJGSFA@fdle.state.fl.us to be added to the waiting list. If any amount of funding opens up, interested applicants will be contacted in the order in which inquiries are received.

DEADLINE: This program is open to Sheriff's Offices located in fiscally constrained counties ONLY through September 30, 2025. The program will be opened to Sheriff's Offices statewide on October 1, 2025. Applications submitted by agencies located in counties that are not fiscally constrained prior to this date will be rejected.

Fiscally Constrained Counties: Baker, Bradford, Calhoun, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Okeechobee, Putnam, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, and Washington.

Overview

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) received authority to administer $2.5 Million in funding for the 2025-2026 fiscal year under Chapter 2025-198, Section 4, Specific Appropriation 1177, to local Sheriff's Offices for the reimbursement of costs related to the sponsorship of deputy sheriff trainees. Trainees must be registered as apprentices with the Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association Law Enforcement Apprenticeship Program (LEAP). First priority will be given to Sheriff's Offices located in fiscally constrained counties.

Eligibility

This program is open to Sheriff's Offices located in the State of Florida.

Deputy sheriff trainees must be enrolled in or have completed a Law Enforcement Basic Recruit training program or a Crossover Corrections to Law Enforcement training program.
Deputy sheriff trainees are considered eligible during their training period only. The training period is defined as the period of time between the date the trainee begins their training (the date they begin law enforcement academy or supervised on-the-job training) and the date the trainee reaches full-time, certified status. Only costs incurred during the project period of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 are eligible for reimbursement.
Trainees must register as an apprentice with the Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association Law Enforcement Apprenticeship Program (LEAP).

Correctional Officer trainees and Correctional Probation Officer trainees are ineligible to receive funding under this program.

Project Period

Grants will be awarded for a 12-month period beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. Only allowable costs incurred during this period will be eligible for reimbursement.

Allowable Costs

Participating Agencies may request reimbursement for the following costs with prior approval from FDLE:

Regular salaries and fringe benefits paid to a deputy sheriff trainee during their training period.
Tuition and related fees paid to a CJSTC-certified training school on the trainee's behalf.

Overtime hours may be considered allowable at the discretion of the Department, when accompanied by sufficient documentation to demonstrate the overtime hours were spent on training activities.

In addition to the above, Participating Agencies located in fiscally constrained counties may claim reimbursement for standard-issue equipment and supplies necessary to outfit a trainee for duty, such as: uniforms, body armor, duty belts and duty belt accessories, weapons, less-than-lethal weapons, laptops, etc. All costs must be pre-approved by FDLE. Only costs incurred within the project period of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 are eligible for reimbursement.

Items such as: vehicles, specialized weapons, investigative equipment, furniture, or office supplies are not eligible for reimbursement under this award.

Application and Award Process

This program does not require an application. Agencies will indicate their interest by submitting a signed LEAP State Financial Assistance Agreement to OCJGSFA@fdle.state.fl.us.

Step 1: Sign and submit a LEAP State Financial Assistance Agreement to FDLE

The LEAP State Financial Assistance Agreement outlines the terms and conditions of the program. Interested agencies should read the agreement in full, complete the fields on Pages 1 and 5, and obtain the signature of the Sheriff (or an approved designee) on Page 6. A fully complete, signed copy of the agreement must be submitted to OCJGSFA@fdle.state.fl.us for processing.

The execution of an award agreement does not guarantee receipt of funding. The amount of funding needed for a trainee must be estimated and provided to FDLE in the form of a LEAP Funding Request Form. This form will be reviewed by FDLE to ensure all costs are allowable, reasonable, and necessary.

Step 2: Submit a LEAP Funding Request Form

A separate LEAP Funding Request Form must be submitted to FDLE for each eligible trainee. The LEAP Funding Request Form will provide basic information about the trainee and the costs to be incurred during their training period. FDLE will review the request and provide written notice of determination to the requestor.

Step 3: Provide Supporting Documentation to FDLE

Upon notification of approval, funding will be held in reserve for thirty (30) days. The following supporting documentation must be provided to FDLE within that timeframe:

A copy of the participating agency’s pay policy;
A copy of the “Apprenticeship Participating Employer’s Agreement” signed by the Employer (the participating agency) and the Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association; and
A copy of the “Program Registration and Apprentice Agreement” signed by the apprentice (the trainee named in the Funding Request) and the Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association.

If this documentation is not submitted to FDLE within the thirty-day deadline, the reserved funding shall be made available to other agencies. Once the supporting documentation has been received, the previously approved amount of funding shall be awarded to the agency, dependent on the current availability of funds.

Agreement and Funding Request Form

Download the documentation for this grant program below:

Submit copies of the signed agreement and completed LEAP Funding Request forms to:

OCJGSFA@fdle.state.fl.us or the assigned SFA Grant Manager.