Law enforcement grants are available from the Federal Government to local jurisdictions, in many cases. In the United States, these grants are often very important for local police departments and sheriff's offices who struggle with their budgets. Getting law enforcement grants begins with the application, in which a need is expressed. Then, there may be interviews, or other questions needing to be answered during the process.
Some agencies may have an experienced grant writer on staff. A police academy may even offer a short unit on grant writing. Others interested in law enforcement grants may decide to hire a writer with a specialization in grant writing. Due to the fact these grants can be for millions of dollars, and are gifts that don't need to be repaid, they often have very specific requirements. Those who fail to meet these requirements may be automatically disqualified from the process. Thus, hiring an experienced writer may act as an insurance policy against disqualification.
Getting law enforcement grants also requires various agencies to be vigilant and to understand when deadlines are coming up. Experienced law enforcement administrators will soon learn when annual grants are due and make sure to have their applications in on time. This is something a law enforcement program will often not teach. Being able to anticipate these grants can be a valuable thing, as it means they will not be overlooked.
Once applications are open for a particular grant, the next step is to fully understand what that grant is for. Many law enforcement grants are very specific. They are for equipment, after school programs, or other such services. Getting approved means making sure there is an understanding of what the grant is for and then explaining how that funding would be used for the betterment and protection of the community.
For those who reapplying for a grant they have already received in the past, it may be a good idea to tell the reviewer what was done with the previous grant money, and what improvement it made. This builds a certain level of trust and lets the reviewer know whether the funds were used appropriately. Informing the grant distributor of this pre-existing relationship can only help in the long run.
Further, coming up with a proposed budget for the next project or equipment purchase is often very important. Those issuing law enforcement grants often want to make sure the law enforcement agencies involved have done their homework. Researching and projecting costs will help show the grant distributor that the agency is serious about obtaining the funding.
