I 
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. FIG-
URES, Mrs. MCIVER, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. THOMPSON of Mis-
sissippi, Mr. THANEDAR, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. IVEY, Ms. NOR-
TON, Ms. ANSARI, Ms. CROCKETT, and Ms. WILSON of Florida) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Ju-
diciary 
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 re-
cidivism 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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Apr 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2668.IH
H2668
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Diversion And Reha-
bilitation 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 re-
sult in negative collateral consequences for individ-
uals, families, and communities, including— 
(A) loss of employment and housing; 
(B) disruption of family relationships; 
(C) increased risk of future criminal be-
havior; and 
(D) strain on State and local resources. 
(3) Pre-incarceration diversion and rehabilita-
tion programs offer a cost-effective and evidence- 
based alternative to incarceration by connecting indi-
viduals with appropriate treatment, life-skills train-
ing, support services, and increasing connectivity to 
behavioral health services, thereby addressing the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Apr 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2668.IH
H2668
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
root causes of crime and promoting long-term public 
safety. 
(4) Many States and local jurisdictions, includ-
ing St. Louis County, Missouri, have successfully 
implemented diversion and rehabilitation programs, 
demonstrating their effectiveness in reducing recidi-
vism and improving community outcomes. 
(5) The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice As-
sistance 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 re-
habilitation programs is essential for ensuring posi-
tive outcomes and reducing recidivism rates. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are as follows: 
(1) To reduce crime and recidivism rates na-
tionwide by supporting the expansion and enhance-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Apr 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2668.IH
H2668
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
ment of pre-arrest diversion, court-based interven-
tion, and post-release rehabilitation at the State and 
local levels. 
(2) To promote a more effective and equitable 
criminal justice system that addresses the under-
lying causes of crime and provides opportunities for 
individuals to turn their lives around. 
(3) To minimize the negative collateral con-
sequences 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 in-
corporate mental health services, peer support, and 
restorative justice practices. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Apr 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2668.IH
H2668
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF PROGRAM PURPOSE AREAS UNDER 
THE EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE AS-
SISTANCE 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 pro-
grams’’ and inserting ‘‘, corrections, and diver-
sion 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-ar-
rest and pre-trial)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(I) Specialty courts and judicial interven-
tion programs, including restorative justice pro-
grams focusing on victim-involvement or com-
munity-based resolutions.’’. 
SEC. 
5. 
NATIONAL 
DIVERSION 
AND 
REHABILITATION 
CLEARINGHOUSE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Attorney General is au-
thorized to establish a National Diversion and Rehabilita-
tion Clearinghouse to centralize information on evidence- 
based practices related to diversion and rehabilitation pro-
grams. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Apr 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2668.IH
H2668
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(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 imple-
menting a diversion and rehabilitation program; 
(3) conduct research and develop training mate-
rials on diversion and rehabilitation programs; 
(4) identify and promote best practices for 
trauma-informed and restorative justice approaches 
to implementing a diversion and rehabilitation pro-
gram; 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 rehabilita-
tion 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: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Apr 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2668.IH
H2668
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) The term ‘‘diversion and rehabilitation pro-
gram’’ means a program that— 
(A) places individuals who come into con-
tact with the criminal justice system into alter-
native 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 rehabili-
tation, an approach that recognizes the impact of 
trauma on individuals and seeks to create safe, sup-
portive, 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 prov-
en effective through randomized control studies 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Apr 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2668.IH
H2668
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
or comparison group studies and with the abil-
ity to replicate and scale. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Apr 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2668.IH
H2668
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS