Goochland Sheriff's Office Opens Applications for 2026 VSI Scholarship Program

Goochland County criminal justice students pursuing degrees at Virginia colleges have until May 1, 2026, to apply for the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute scholarship program, with the Goochland County Sheriff's Office promoting the opportunity for eligible local residents.

Applications became available on the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute website by January 31, and must be submitted online with all required information by May 1. The deadline will be adhered to, according to VSI. All materials must be completed online and electronically signed, and applicants must be majoring in a criminal justice field and attending a Virginia college or university for the 2026-27 school year.

Two award amounts are available: $1,000 for full-time students and $500 for part-time students. Only criminal justice majors qualify; those pursuing law or a career as a lawyer are not eligible. Certificates of award will be mailed to individual sheriffs' offices, and checks will be made payable to the educational institution listed on the application, with a college or university student ID required to issue the scholarship check.

Eligibility carries specific residency and documentation requirements. Students must be permanent residents, and if 18 or older, registered voters, in a Virginia county or city where their sheriff is a VSI member and has authorized the institute to conduct a direct mail special appeal to raise scholarship funds. Students 18 and older must provide a copy of their voter registration card, while those under 18 must submit a government-issued picture ID with their home address as proof of residency.

A letter of recommendation from the resident sheriff is also required as part of the application package. The letter must come directly from the sheriff; letters from deputies or other staff members will not be accepted. Goochland students should contact the Sheriff's Office promptly to arrange the recommendation before the May 1 deadline.

The scholarship promotion comes as the Goochland County Sheriff's Office has deepened its ties to the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute on multiple fronts. The office previously congratulated Sheriff Steven Creasey and Major Mike East on receiving their Virginia Sheriffs' Institute Certification awards at a VSI award ceremony. VSI records confirm both Creasey and Major Michael East received their certifications in 2022. The VSI certification promotes and recognizes the continued individual professional development of Virginia's sheriffs and deputies, and was developed in cooperation with the Virginia Sheriffs' Association, the Performance Management Group at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU, and the Virginia Center for Policing Innovation.

VSI awarded dozens of scholarships across Virginia in 2023, with the number varying each year depending on eligible students and the amount raised through fundraising. Full program policies, the application, and a checklist are available at vasheriffsinstitute.org. Students with questions about the Goochland-specific recommendation process can contact the Goochland County Sheriff's Office directly.