Keeping Communities Safe through Treatment Act of 2017

To direct the Attorney General to carry out a pilot program to provide grants to eligible entities to divert individuals with low-level drug offenses to prebooking diversion programs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Keeping Communities Safe through Treatment Act of 2017 2. Pilot program (a) Establishment (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall establish a pilot program to provide grants to eligible entities for prebooking diversion programs to divert individuals with low-level drug offenses to a case manager for an immediate needs assessment, crisis intervention, and to schedule an in-depth intake interview. (2) Duration of pilot program The pilot program shall terminate 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (3) Grants awarded under pilot program The Attorney General shall award grants under the pilot program to not fewer than 10 eligible entities. (b) Limitation on use of funds Grant funds awarded under the pilot program may not be used to divert an individual with a low-level drug offense to a drug treatment program if criminal charges have been filed and are pending against such individual. (c) Application (1) In general To be selected to receive a grant under the pilot program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Attorney General an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may require. (2) Other requirements Each application for a grant under the pilot program shall include a description of how the eligible entity— (A) coordinates with drug treatment programs that provide medication-assisted treatment; (B) plans to coordinate with local prosecutors; (C) plans to divert individuals with low-level drug offenses to such programs; (D) plans to monitor and record the progress of such individuals in such programs; (E) plans to assess such individuals to ensure that they have an appropriate individualized intervention; and (F) will provide case management for such individuals. (d) Reports (1) Quarterly reports Each quarter during the duration of the pilot program, an eligible entity that receives a grant under the pilot program shall submit a report to the Attorney General that includes— (A) the number of individuals diverted to programs by the diversion program for which the grant funds are used; (B) any subsequent arrest records of such individuals, when such records are publicly available; (C) any subsequent criminal charges filed against such individuals; and (D) the cost of such programs. (2) Annual reports Not less than once each year during the duration of the pilot program, the Attorney General shall submit a report to Congress that includes— (A) the number of grants awarded under the pilot program; (B) the number of individuals diverted to programs by the diversion program for which the grant funds are used; (C) any subsequent arrest records of such individuals, when such records are publicly available; (D) any subsequent criminal charges filed against such individuals; and (E) the amount of funds used to provide grants under the pilot program. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity 21 U.S.C. 1706(b) (2) Low-level drug offense The term low-level drug offense (3) Medication-assisted treatment The term medication-assisted treatment 21 U.S.C. 355 42 U.S.C. 262 (4) Serious violent felony The term serious violent felony (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated such funds as may be necessary to carry out the pilot program, to be derived from the funds made available to the Office of Justice Programs.

Summary: Keeping Communities Safe through Treatment Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Justice to establish a pilot program to provide grants to law enforcement agencies in designated high intensity drug trafficking areas for pre-booking diversion programs to divert low-level drug offenders to drug treatment programs.