The Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) is responsible for the training of law enforcement professionals as provided under Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapters 15, 15A, 16, 70, 71, 72, 95, and KRS 403.785(2), along with 500 KAR 8:010 and 503 KAR. Basic and specialized training courses are offered to police officers, dispatchers, sheriffs, deputies, coroners, certified court-security officers, school resource officers, and certain other agencies upon request. Major training areas include patrol procedures, physical training, vehicle operations, defensive tactics, criminal law and DUI, firearms, criminal investigations, cultural awareness, bias-related crimes and tactical responses to crisis situations. Telecommunication training includes identifying the role and responsibilities of the dispatcher, correct phone and radio procedures, handling emergency and nonemergency calls for service, using emergency medical dispatch protocols and using the state and national criminal databases. Training is conducted in Richmond at the Training Center on the Eastern Kentucky University campus, in Madisonville and at regional sites.

The DOCJT operates two training programs: the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund (KLEFPF), and the Special Training programs. As a part of their duties, DOCJT is responsible for the Law Enforcement Professional Development and Wellness Fund, the Office of the State School Security Marshal Fund, and the Carrying Concealed Deadly Weapons fund. Additionally, DOCJT provides financial support for the Peace Officers Professional Standards (POPS) program and the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council Support (KLECS) office. The KLEFPF agency resources are derived from property and casualty insurance premium surcharge proceeds, which accrue pursuant to KRS 136.392, and are allocated by KRS 42.190 between the KLEFPF and the Kentucky Firefighters Foundation Program Fund.

KRS 15.518 established the Professional Development and Wellness Branch. It is a comprehensive approach to wellbeing by striving to provide Kentucky law enforcement officers and dispatchers with the tools required to have a long life, a successful career and a happy retirement. The branch hosts Kentucky Post-Critical Incident Seminars (KYPCIS), three-day trainings led by mental health professionals trained to work with peace officers and dispatchers, and driven by a team of law enforcement and public safety dispatch peers who have experienced their own critical incident and received training in Critical Incident Stress Management. Additionally, the branch is responsible for assisting law enforcement officers with obtaining benefits related to disability and line of duty death.

The School Safety and Resiliency Act, an act relating to school safety and regularly referred to as Senate Bill 1, was passed during the 2019 Regular Session. The Office of the State School Security Marshal was established to monitor school safety and security initiatives, born out of legislation developed after the Marshall County High School shooting that occurred on January 23, 2018. Compliance officers are assigned to districts throughout the state to conduct school on-site reviews to ensure compliance with the law, using a 66-point assessment tool DOCJT prepared in accordance with SB1.

The Kentucky Law Enforcement Council (KLEC) is an independent council with statutory duties that are directly supported by the Office of Kentucky Law Enforcement Council Support (OKLECS). OKLECS under 15A.080, is administratively attached to the Department of Criminal Justice Training for administrative services that include financial, procurement, human resources, fleet and facility management, governmental connectivity and logistics, computer hardware, and supply services. The KLEC and its support staff oversee the certification requirements of police officers, dispatchers, and court security officers from across the Commonwealth.

The budget provides for a training incentive stipend in the amount of $4,562 each fiscal year from the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund (KLEFPF) for approximately 8,360 certified peace officers. The budget includes funding for a proportional amount $2,281 each fiscal year annual training incentive stipend for approximately 164 part-time certified officers.

The stipend recipients include municipal, county and university local law enforcement officers, state troopers, arson investigators, hazardous devices investigators, legislative security specialists, and Vehicle Enforcement officers within the Kentucky State Police; Horse Park mounted patrol officers; State Park rangers; Agriculture investigators, Charitable Gaming investigators; Alcoholic Beverage Control investigators; Insurance fraud investigators; Attorney General investigators; and School Security Officers. House Bill 137 of the 2022 Regular Session expanded eligible recipients under KRS 15.420 to include: an officer serving on a joint task force, a detective employed by a county attorney, a process server for juvenile courts with a consolidated local government, a local alcoholic beverage control investigator appointed pursuant to KRS Chapter 241 and any detective for a Commonwealth's attorney established in accordance with KRS 15.460.

The budget includes $133,328,400 in fiscal year 2027 and $161,936,300 in fiscal year 2028 for the Kentucky Law Enforcement Program Fund.

The Governor's budget includes funding for the Western Kentucky Training Facility located in Madisonville in the amount of $372,800 each year for an additional two basic training classes allowing to meet needs of training in the region, $17,200 each year for Google workspace licensing to support rising enrollment, and $106,100 in fiscal year 2027 and $110,900 in fiscal year 2028 for a Program Coordinator to provide local support for scheduling, registration, roster management, and communication to agencies, ensuring that training operations are efficient and accessible.

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