The Pathways to Policing Act authorizes competitive grants totaling up to $50 million per year from 2025 through 2029 to states, local governments, and law enforcement agencies to recruit and hire police officers. Grant recipients can use funds for marketing and recruitment campaigns and for developing or expanding "Pathways to Policing" programs that help people with barriers to entry, such as lacking prior law enforcement experience or the required education, to become full-time officers by providing financial support and training opportunities. The legislation prioritizes grants for applicants who recruit from communities historically underrepresented in law enforcement, hire candidates with nontraditional backgrounds, or recruit officers from the communities they will serve. Additionally, the Attorney General is required to launch a nationwide recruitment campaign within one year and develop resources for local agencies, with another $50 million authorized annually through 2029 for this effort. The bill aims to address police officer shortages by creating alternative pathways into the profession and increasing diversity in law enforcement.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.