Virginia Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution (VSTOP) Limited Competition Grant Program

The Virginia Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution (VSTOP) Limited Competition Grant Program aims to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement in Virginia. Managed by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, this program is open for applications for the 2026-2027 grant cycle, focusing on initiatives that improve access to justice for survivors of violence. Eligible projects must create new officer positions within law enforcement to support these objectives.

Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is charged with planning and carrying out programs and initiatives to improve the functioning and effectiveness of the criminal justice system as a whole (Code of Virginia § 9.1-102).
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services:

• conducts research and evaluation on criminal justice issues;develops short and long-term criminal justice plans;

distributes federal and state funding to localities, state agencies and nonprofit organizations in the areas of law enforcement, prosecution, crime and delinquency prevention, juvenile justice, victims services, corrections, and information systems;
provides training, technical assistance and program development services to all segments of the criminal justice system;
establishes and enforces minimum training standards for law enforcement, criminal justice, and private security personnel; and
licenses and regulates the private security industry in Virginia.
Virginia Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution (VSTOP) Limited Competition Grant Program
Introduction
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is accepting applications for the Calendar Years (CY) 2026-2027 Virginia Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution (VSTOP) grant program.
Grant Period
This is a competitive grant opportunity for new law enforcement category applicants only. The grant period is 24 months, CY 2026-2027, January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027.
Priority Area
In accordance with Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2025 OVW funding requirements and priorities established by the VSTOP State Planning Team, eligible applications must develop, maintain, or expand initiatives within the Law Enforcement category. This requires that proposed projects will increase access to justice for all survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, by establishing a new VSTOP initiative within the law enforcement category, through the creation of VSTOP officer positions.