Training is a critical area in providing professional law enforcement and corrections services. Law enforcement officers in Michigan are required to be licensed by MCOLES, the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, and to have a minimum amount of training each year. Typically, law enforcement training funds are provided through a state grant that is funded from traffic fines collected by the State of Michigan. In Allegan County an arrangement has been made to stretch training dollars through the West Michigan Criminal Justice Training Consortium. To create the Consortium, a portion of the grant funds for each participating agency are pooled with other area law enforcement agencies so that training opportunities can be arranged locally, with the costs being shared from the pooled funds.

Until recently, there was no similar grant for corrections services training. For the past several years, the State of Michigan has mandated collection of a booking fee of $12.00 per inmate, and a warrant fee of $10.00 per warrant, that is used specifically to fund training for corrections officers. Along with this, a certification program for corrections officers was introduced. Allegan County is proud to have the majority of its corrections officers already certified. All newly hired corrections officers also must attend a training academy before completing their probationary period.

Clerical support staff members are also well trained, in order to keep knowledge current on law enforcement software, crime reporting regulations, Microsoft products, and current office procedures.