[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2668 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2668
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to
authorize the use of Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
Program funds to support State and local efforts to reduce crime and
recidivism through the expansion and enhancement of pre-incarceration
diversion and rehabilitation programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 7, 2025
Mr. Bell (for himself, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr.
Figures, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Thompson of
Mississippi, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Ivey, Ms.
Norton, Ms. Ansari, Ms. Crockett, and Ms. Wilson of Florida) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to
authorize the use of Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
Program funds to support State and local efforts to reduce crime and
recidivism through the expansion and enhancement of pre-incarceration
diversion and rehabilitation programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Diversion And Rehabilitation
Transformation Act of 2025'' or the ``DART Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Drug addiction, mental health disorders, and systemic
poverty are significant contributing factors to crime rates
across the United States.
(2) Traditional criminal justice approaches, particularly
incarceration, often fail to address the underlying causes of
criminal behavior and can result in negative collateral
consequences for individuals, families, and communities,
including--
(A) loss of employment and housing;
(B) disruption of family relationships;
(C) increased risk of future criminal behavior; and
(D) strain on State and local resources.
(3) Pre-incarceration diversion and rehabilitation programs
offer a cost-effective and evidence-based alternative to
incarceration by connecting individuals with appropriate
treatment, life-skills training, support services, and
increasing connectivity to behavioral health services, thereby
addressing the root causes of crime and promoting long-term
public safety.
(4) Many States and local jurisdictions, including St.
Louis County, Missouri, have successfully implemented diversion
and rehabilitation programs, demonstrating their effectiveness
in reducing recidivism and improving community outcomes.
(5) The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
Program (JAG) is a critical source of Federal funding for State
and local criminal justice initiatives.
(6) Expanding the allowable uses of JAG funds to
specifically include pre-arrest diversion, specialty courts,
and post-release rehabilitation will enhance the effectiveness
of the JAG program and promote a more comprehensive approach to
criminal justice reform.
(7) The implementation of evidence-based and trauma-
informed practices within diversion and rehabilitation programs
is essential for ensuring positive outcomes and reducing
recidivism rates.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are as follows:
(1) To reduce crime and recidivism rates nationwide by
supporting the expansion and enhancement of pre-arrest
diversion, court-based intervention, and post-release
rehabilitation at the State and local levels.
(2) To promote a more effective and equitable criminal
justice system that addresses the underlying causes of crime
and provides opportunities for individuals to turn their lives
around.
(3) To minimize the negative collateral consequences
associated with incarceration and the criminal justice process.
(4) To encourage the adoption of evidence-based and trauma-
informed practices in diversion and rehabilitation programs.
(5) To leverage the existing infrastructure of the Edward
Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to efficiently
and effectively support diversion and rehabilitation efforts.
(6) To prioritize funding for programs that incorporate
mental health services, peer support, and restorative justice
practices.
SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF PROGRAM PURPOSE AREAS UNDER THE EDWARD BYRNE
MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 501(a)(1) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act
of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10152(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (H)--
(A) by striking ``and corrections programs'' and
inserting ``, corrections, and diversion and
rehabilitation programs''; and
(B) by inserting before the period at the end the
following: ``implemented at any phase of the criminal
justice process (including pre-arrest and pre-trial)'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(I) Specialty courts and judicial intervention
programs, including restorative justice programs
focusing on victim-involvement or community-based
resolutions.''.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL DIVERSION AND REHABILITATION CLEARINGHOUSE.
(a) Establishment.--The Attorney General is authorized to establish
a National Diversion and Rehabilitation Clearinghouse to centralize
information on evidence-based practices related to diversion and
rehabilitation programs.
(b) Functions.--The Clearinghouse established under subsection (a)
is authorized to--
(1) collect and disseminate research on effective diversion
and rehabilitation programs;
(2) provide technical assistance to States, local
governments, and non-profits related to implementing a
diversion and rehabilitation program;
(3) conduct research and develop training materials on
diversion and rehabilitation programs;
(4) identify and promote best practices for trauma-informed
and restorative justice approaches to implementing a diversion
and rehabilitation program; and
(5) provide technical assistance to recipients of grants
under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
Program under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10151 et
seq.) that are using such funds for a diversion and
rehabilitation program.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Attorney General such sums as may be necessary to
carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``diversion and rehabilitation program'' means
a program that--
(A) places individuals who come into contact with
the criminal justice system into alternative processes
outside the standard scope of criminal justice
processing; and
(B) reduces an individual's involvement in the
criminal justice system in both the short and long
term.
(2) The term ``trauma-informed practice'' means, with
respect to criminal justice and rehabilitation, an approach
that recognizes the impact of trauma on individuals and seeks
to create safe, supportive, and empowering environments that
promote healing and reduce re-traumatization.
(3) The term ``evidence-based practice'' means a program or
practice that--
(A) is demonstrated to be effective when
implemented with fidelity;
(B) is based on a clearly articulated and
empirically supported theory;
(C) has measurable outcomes relevant to reducing
incarceration; and
(D) has been scientifically tested and proven
effective through randomized control studies or
comparison group studies and with the ability to
replicate and scale.
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