Strong Communities Act of 2025
The Strong Communities Act of 2025 would create a new COPS Strong Communities Program under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The program would allow (and in some cases require) federal grants to be used to help local law enforcement recruits attend police training programs at eligible colleges/universities or at local law enforcement agencies. Recruits must agree to serve as full-time officers for at least 4 years within an 8-year period after completing training, and must work in a local agency near their residence (with special distance rules for rural counties). If recruits do not complete the service requirement, they must repay the benefits received, subject to regulations for extenuating circumstances. The bill also requires annual transparency reporting to Congress on recipients, locations, training plans, and post-grant employment outcomes.
Key Points
- 1Establishes the COPS Strong Communities Program as a new subsection (q) of Section 1701 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (starting in fiscal year 2025).
- 2Eligible entities: (a) an institution of higher education that offers a law enforcement training program in coordination with a local agency, or (b) a local law enforcement agency that offers a training program.
- 3Grants are competitive and may be used for officers and recruits to attend training programs if they commit to serving in local law enforcement agencies in their communities.
- 4Eligibility requirements for beneficiaries: the officer/recruit must serve full-time for at least 4 years within 8 years after completing training; must serve in a local agency near their residence (within 7 miles if the resident has lived there for at least 5 years; or within 20 miles for rural counties with fewer than 150,000 residents); must provide evidence of employment via certification from the agency’s chief administrative officer.
- 5Repayment provisions: if the officer/recruit does not complete the service, they must repay the amount of benefits received; the Attorney General would issue regulations outlining extenuating circumstances under which repayment may be waived.
- 6Transparency: annual reporting to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees detailing recipients, locations, and the number of officers/recruits planned to attend training; and, from enactment date to the report, the number who attended, became employees, and remain employed with the recipient.