FY26 Safer Outcomes Program

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing and the Administration’s priority of Making America Safe Again by supporting the nation’s state, local, territorial and Tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources. This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the FY26 Safer Outcomes: Enhancing Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement Program. This opportunity seeks to promote safe outcomes during police encounters through relevant training. Awards will be made to entities seeking to implement training and related supports. Training is supported for law enforcement officers, support personnel employed by law enforcement agencies, and associated mental health professionals working on crisis intervention teams as employees of a law enforcement agency or under a legal agreement with a law enforcement agency. Training programs and related funding requests must address one of more of the areas of focus listed below: 1. De-escalation tactics and alternatives to use of force. For purposes of this funding opportunity, the term “de-escalation” means taking action or communicating verbally or nonverbally during a potential force encounter in an attempt to stabilize the situation and reduce the immediacy of the threat so that more time, options, and resources can be called upon to resolve the situation without the use of force or with a reduction in the force necessary. 2. Safely responding to an individual experiencing a mental or behavioral health or suicidal crisis. Such a crisis is one in which the behavior of a person puts the person at risk of hurting himself or herself or others or impairs or prevents the person from being able to care for himself or herself or function effectively in the community. This also includes situations in which a person is under the influence of a drug or alcohol, is suicidal, or experiences symptoms of a mental illness; or may exhibit symptoms, including emotional reactions (such as fear or anger), psychological impairments (such as inability to focus, confusion, or psychosis), and behavioral reactions (such as the activation of a freeze, fight, or flight response). Under this focus area, applicants can request funds for co-responding clinicians. 3. Safe encounters with individuals with disabilities. The term “disability” has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102). 4. Successfully participating on a crisis intervention team. The term “crisis intervention team” means a collaborative, interdisciplinary team that brings together specially trained law enforcement officers, mental health providers, and other community stakeholders to respond to mental health–related calls, use appropriate de-escalation techniques, and assess if referral to services or transport for mental health evaluation is appropriate. 5. Making referrals to community-based services and support. This may include mental and behavioral health services and support, housing assistance programs, public benefits programs, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and other services. Important Notice – Upcoming LEDTA National Standards. Please visit https://ledtatraining.org/. If applicable, the COPS Office will notify your organization of any award requirements to align with LEDTA national standards The COPS Office seeks to promote safe outcomes during police encounters through relevant training through this NOFO in the following three funding categories: Category 1: FY26 Safer Outcomes: Support for Law Enforcement Agencies Proposed projects for this category must address one or more of the areas of focus listed in the Purpose section of this funding opportunity. Category 2: FY26 Safer Outcomes: Continuation of Regional De-Escalation Training Centers Awards under this category will be made through two funding paths: Path 1: The Continuation of Regional De-escalation Training Centers path will provide continuation funding for the provision of training and programming to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies in a multistate region. Path 2: The Continuation and Coordination of Regional De-escalation Training Centers path will support the coordination of the Regional De-escalation Training Centers, as well as the provision of training and programming to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies in a multistate region. Regardless of the path selected, proposed projects for this category must address one or more of the areas of focus in the Purpose area of this funding opportunity. Category 3: FY26 Safer Outcomes: Curriculum Integration for Law Enforcement Academies and State-Level Training Centers This program promotes safe outcomes during police encounters through the integration of de-escalation and crisis response training into the curriculum of law enforcement academies and state-level training commissions. Partnerships with experts in adult learning concepts and curriculum development are highly encouraged. Awards under this funding opportunity will be made through two funding paths: Funding Paths Path 1: The Academy Path Traditional academy curricula provide separate blocks of instruction on prescribed material, whereas a curriculum that integrates one or more concepts will revisit these concepts throughout the entire training program within the context of new material. De-escalation and crisis response concepts are ideal for integration because they are relevant in the contexts of many traditional law enforcement training domains, including use of force, criminal law, communication, and procedural justice. These awards are intended to provide resources for academies seeking to update, revise, and supplement basic training curricula in a way that includes integration of training on de-escalation and crisis response as described in the five areas of focus. Path 2: The Commission Path Many state POSTs enforce training standards or mandate various training curricula that have developed over time to reflect changes to legislation, technological advancements, and evolving responsibilities of the police profession. This can sometimes result in a set of standards or a program of training that is not clearly defined or synthesized. These awards are intended to provide resources for commissions seeking to update, revise, and supplement law enforcement training standards or mandated curricula in a way that includes integration of training on de-escalation and crisis response as described in the five focus areas.