Applications Open for Collaborative Reform Initiative Program (United States)

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) has launched the FY26 Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI) Program to strengthen community policing, improve law enforcement operations, and support officer safety and wellness across the United States. The programme provides up to $4.2 million in cooperative agreement funding for technical assistance, training, organizational improvement, critical incident support, and public safety initiatives.

About the FY26 Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI) Program

The Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI) Program is a funding opportunity launched by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office).

The programme supports law enforcement agencies by providing expert assistance, organizational improvement strategies, training, and operational support to strengthen community-oriented policing and improve public safety outcomes.

The initiative focuses on helping agencies:

• Improve policing practices.
• Increase organizational effectiveness.
• Strengthen officer safety and wellness.
• Reduce crime through evidence-based approaches.
• Build stronger relationships between law enforcement and communities.
• Develop long-term improvement strategies.

Programme Objectives

The FY26 CRI Program aims to:

• Advance community policing practices across the United States.
• Strengthen law enforcement agencies’ ability to identify and address challenges.
• Provide customized technical assistance based on agency needs.
• Improve operational policies and procedures.
• Support data-driven decision-making.
• Enhance officer wellness and safety.
• Promote peer learning among law enforcement agencies.
• Improve responses to major incidents and critical events.
• Support crime reduction and public safety improvements.

Funding Information

The FY26 Collaborative Reform Initiative Program provides significant financial support through two funding categories.

Total Available Funding

• Total expected funding: $4.2 million
• Funding mechanism: Cooperative Agreement
• Project period: 12 months
• Expected start date: October 1, 2026

Category 1: CRI Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC)

• Expected award amount: Up to $3.45 million
• Expected number of awards: One

Category 2: CRI Critical Response

• Expected award amount: Up to $750,000
• Expected number of awards: One

No cost-sharing or matching funds are required.

Funding Categories

The programme includes two major components.

1. Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC)

Purpose of CRI-TAC

The CRI-TAC category provides customized technical assistance to law enforcement agencies seeking to improve their operations, policies, and community policing practices.

Assistance is designed according to each agency’s specific needs and challenges.

Types of Support Available

CRI-TAC may provide:

• Expert consultation.
• Law enforcement training.
• Mentoring support.
• Policy development assistance.
• Peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
• Meeting and workshop facilitation.
• Conference support.
• Online learning resources.
• Research and resource referrals.
• Operational assessments.
• Organizational improvement guidance.

CRI-TAC Applicant Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate the ability to:

• Manage nationwide technical assistance programmes.
• Maintain a network of experienced law enforcement experts.
• Provide specialized subject matter expertise.
• Coordinate training and consultation activities.
• Measure the effectiveness of technical assistance.
• Support diverse law enforcement agencies.

2. Collaborative Reform Initiative Critical Response

Purpose of Critical Response Support

The Critical Response category helps law enforcement agencies address major incidents, high-profile events, and significant operational challenges.

This support is provided only when requested voluntarily by the affected law enforcement agency.

Types of Critical Response Assistance

Support may include:

• Immediate technical assistance.
• Incident response support.
• Data collection.
• Data analysis.
• Operational assessments.
• After-action reviews.
• Identification of successful practices.
• Recommendations for future improvements.

Benefits of Critical Response Assistance

The support helps agencies:

• Understand operational challenges.
• Evaluate emergency responses.
• Identify lessons learned.
• Improve future preparedness.
• Strengthen public safety operations.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility depends on the funding category.

CRI-TAC Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

• Law enforcement stakeholder associations.
• Eligible nonprofit organizations.
• Eligible for-profit organizations.

Applicants must have the ability to provide nationwide technical assistance services to law enforcement agencies.

Critical Response Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

• Nonprofit organizations.
• For-profit organizations.
• Institutions of higher education.

Geographic Scope

The programme supports law enforcement agencies across the:

• United States.
• States and local jurisdictions.
• Campus communities.
• Tribal communities.
• Territorial jurisdictions.

Why This Programme Matters

Effective community policing requires continuous improvement, strong partnerships, and access to expert resources.

The CRI Program helps law enforcement agencies:

• Improve trust between communities and police.
• Strengthen transparency and accountability.
• Develop better policies.
• Improve responses to emergencies.
• Support officer mental and physical wellness.
• Use evidence-based approaches for crime prevention.
• Build stronger public safety systems.

How the Programme Works

The FY26 CRI Program operates through cooperative agreements between selected organizations and the COPS Office.

The process includes:

Step 1: Technical Assistance Delivery

Selected organizations provide customized support to law enforcement agencies.

Step 2: Needs Assessment

Agencies identify challenges and areas where assistance is needed.

Step 3: Expert Support

Specialists provide:

• Training.
• Consultation.
• Policy guidance.
• Operational analysis.

Step 4: Evaluation and Improvement

Support providers assess outcomes and identify opportunities for continued improvement.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

1. Review the FY26 CRI Program requirements.
2. Identify the appropriate funding category.
3. Confirm eligibility status.
4. Develop a detailed programme strategy.
5. Demonstrate organizational capacity.
6. Prepare a technical proposal.
7. Develop a project budget.
8. Submit the application through the required DOJ grant application system before the deadline.

Application Components

Applicants should generally prepare:

• Organizational information.
• Project description.
• Implementation plan.
• Technical approach.
• Experience providing similar services.
• Staffing plan.
• Budget information.
• Performance measurement strategy.
• Partnership information, if applicable.

Selection Considerations

Applications may be evaluated based on:

• Experience in law enforcement support.
• Technical expertise.
• Ability to manage large-scale assistance programmes.
• Quality of proposed approach.
• Organizational capacity.
• Knowledge of community policing.
• Ability to measure programme impact.
• Strength of expert networks.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen proposals by:

• Demonstrating previous experience with law enforcement agencies.
• Providing evidence of successful technical assistance projects.
• Including qualified subject matter experts.
• Developing clear performance indicators.
• Explaining how assistance will create measurable improvements.
• Highlighting experience with diverse communities.
• Showing capacity for nationwide programme delivery.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Applying under the wrong funding category.
• Failing to demonstrate technical expertise.
• Providing unclear project goals.
• Weak evaluation plans.
• Inadequate staffing information.
• Missing required application documents.
• Proposing activities unrelated to community policing improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the FY26 Collaborative Reform Initiative Program?

The FY26 CRI Program is a DOJ COPS Office funding opportunity that supports community policing, law enforcement improvement, officer wellness, and public safety through technical assistance and critical response support.

How much funding is available?

The programme has approximately $4.2 million in total expected funding.

What are the two funding categories?

The programme includes:

• CRI Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC)
• CRI Critical Response

Who can apply for CRI-TAC funding?

CRI-TAC applications are limited to law enforcement stakeholder associations and eligible nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

Who can apply for Critical Response funding?

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and institutions of higher education.

Is matching funding required?

No. Cost sharing or matching funds are not required.

How long will funded projects operate?

Both cooperative agreements will have a 12-month project period beginning October 1, 2026.

Conclusion

The FY26 Collaborative Reform Initiative Program provides an important opportunity to strengthen community policing and improve law enforcement effectiveness across the United States. Through customized technical assistance, organizational improvement support, training, and critical response services, the programme helps agencies build safer communities, improve operational practices, and enhance public trust while supporting sustainable public safety solutions.