Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services received a $300,000 Project Grant from the Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants program (CFDA 16.710) effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027. The award supports expansion of the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) accreditation program to enhance law enforcement professionalism across the Commonwealth.

The grant funds two primary deliverables. Phase 1 consists of quarterly in-person and virtual training sessions delivered throughout Virginia to VLEPSC-accredited agencies and agencies in the self-assessment phase. These trainings address new and revised VLEPSC standards, updates to state code, and identified deficiency areas identified through assessments and compliance reviews. Phase 2 focuses on direct technical assistance to support three new law enforcement agencies in achieving VLEPSC accreditation and three additional agencies in entering the self-assessment phase, with particular emphasis on small and rural law enforcement agencies. This initiative advances community policing capacity and organizational transformation by promoting standardized professional practices, policies, and procedures across Virginia's law enforcement community.