H.R. 2668 — DART Act of 2025

This section states congressional findings recognizing drug addiction, mental health disorders, and poverty as drivers of crime; limitations and collateral consequences of incarceration; effectiveness of pre-incarceration diversion and rehabilitation programs in reducing recidivism; successful state and local examples; the role of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program; benefits of expanding JAG allowable uses to include pre-arrest diversion, specialty courts, and post-release rehabilitation; and the importance of evidence-based, trauma-informed practices.

This section states the purposes of the Act: (1) to reduce crime and recidivism nationwide by supporting expansion and enhancement of pre-arrest diversion, court-based intervention, and post-release rehabilitation at state and local levels; (2) to promote a more effective and equitable criminal justice system that addresses underlying causes of crime and provides opportunities for individuals to turn their lives around; (3) to minimize negative collateral consequences of incarceration and the criminal justice process; (4) to encourage 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 (Byrne JAG)—a Department of Justice formula grant program for state and local criminal justice activities—to support diversion and rehabilitation efforts; and (6) to prioritize funding for programs incorporating mental health services, peer support, and restorative justice practices.

This section expands eligible uses of grants under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne JAG)—which provides formula grants to states and units of local government for criminal justice purposes—(1) by modifying mental health programs and related programs under subparagraph (H) to cover law enforcement, corrections, diversion, and rehabilitation programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams, implemented at any phase of the criminal justice process (including pre-arrest and pre-trial) (previously, law enforcement and corrections programs); and (2) by adding subparagraph (I) to include specialty courts and judicial intervention programs, including restorative justice programs focusing on victim-involvement or community-based resolutions.

This section authorizes the Attorney General to establish a National Diversion and Rehabilitation Clearinghouse to centralize information on evidence-based practices related to diversion and rehabilitation programs (i.e., programs that divert individuals from standard criminal justice processing to reduce short- and long-term system involvement). The clearinghouse may (1) collect and disseminate research on effective such programs; (2) provide technical assistance to states, local governments, and nonprofits implementing them; (3) conduct research and develop training materials; (4) identify and promote best practices for trauma-informed (i.e., recognizing trauma's impact to promote healing) and restorative justice approaches; and (5) assist recipients of Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne JAG) funds using them for such programs. It authorizes appropriations for FY2026 through 2031.