Safe Oklahoma Grant Program

The Safe Oklahoma Grant Program is administered by the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General and was established in 2012 through statutory authority under Title 74, Section 20k of the Oklahoma Statutes. The program is funded through an annual appropriation from the Oklahoma State Legislature and is designed to support local law enforcement agencies in addressing and reducing violent crime across the state. The initiative reflects the state’s commitment to enhancing public safety by equipping local agencies with targeted resources and strategic support. The Attorney General’s office oversees implementation, administration, and monitoring of the program, including application review and grant compliance. The primary purpose of the Safe Oklahoma Grant is to increase the capacity of local law enforcement agencies and sheriff’s offices to respond effectively to violent crime within their jurisdictions. The program emphasizes strategic interventions that are tailored to the unique needs of each community. Funding is intended to support efforts that directly contribute to crime reduction, including increasing patrol presence in high-crime areas, strengthening investigative capabilities, and fostering community-based partnerships. The grant prioritizes initiatives that demonstrate a clear connection to reducing violent crime and improving public safety outcomes. Allowable uses of funds include overtime costs for officers, technology upgrades, and enhancements to analytical capabilities. Agencies may also use funds to support community partnership initiatives and services for victims of crime. Importantly, the program specifies that funding for staffing is limited to overtime expenses and cannot be used for hiring new personnel or covering regular salaries and benefits. Additional allowable expenditures include upgrading outdated equipment and purchasing new resources that directly support law enforcement operations. These spending guidelines ensure that funds are used to produce measurable improvements in crime prevention and response. Eligibility for the Safe Oklahoma Grant is limited to local law enforcement agencies and sheriff’s offices operating within the state of Oklahoma. Applicants must submit proposals to the Office of the Attorney General that outline how their proposed activities will address violent crime using one or more priority strategies. These strategies include increasing staffing through overtime, enhancing technological capacity, improving analytical capabilities, engaging community partners, and expanding direct services to victims. Each application must demonstrate alignment with these priorities and provide a clear plan for implementation. The application process for the FY 2027 cycle opens on June 1, 2026, and closes on July 31, 2026. Applications are submitted through the Oklahoma Grant Exchange (OGX) system, which also serves as the platform for submitting grant award documents and required progress and financial reports. While the program does not specify pre-application requirements such as letters of intent, applicants are expected to follow all submission instructions provided through the OGX platform. Award decisions are announced at a later date following the review process, though a specific notification timeline is not detailed. Grants are awarded for a one-year performance period. For example, the FY 2026 award cycle covered the period from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. This annual structure indicates that the program is recurring, with application cycles typically occurring once per year. The consistent timing of application openings and closings suggests a predictable annual funding opportunity for eligible agencies. Questions regarding the program can be directed to the Attorney General’s office via email or phone, with designated grant monitors and administrators available to assist applicants throughout the process.