Criminal Justice Grants

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. 

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.
 

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.
 

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

Participating Agencies located in fiscally constrained counties only may claim reimbursement for standard-issue duty 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.

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

 

Application and Award Funding

Interested Sheriff's Offices may apply by following the instructions on the Open Funding Opportunities webpage, if funding is still available. 

All LEAP awards will be executed with an initial balance of $0.00. Participating Agencies must submit a separate LEAP Funding Request Form for each trainee to FDLE for review and approval as trainees are hired. Funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with fiscally constrained counties receiving first priority.
 

Post-Award Documentation

• LEAP Funding Request Form
   

General questions about the LEAP Program may be submitted to OCJGSFA@fdle.state.fl.us or the assigned SFA Grant Manager.