“A bill to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to modify the provisions relating to treatment courts.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section replaces part EE of Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10611 et seq.) with a new discretionary grant program authorizing the Attorney General to award grants to states, state and local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to establish or enhance (1) juvenile drug treatment courts serving youth charged with delinquency due to moderate-to-severe substance use or co-occurring mental health disorders; (2) family treatment courts serving parents or guardians in child dependency cases involving substance use-related abuse or neglect; (3) tribal healing to wellness courts providing culturally appropriate services for drug- or alcohol-related tribal law violations; (4) impaired driving courts for repeat driving-under-the-influence offenders; (5) adult drug treatment courts as incarceration alternatives for those with substance use disorders; and (6) other courts adhering to National Association of Drug Court Professionals best practices. (Treatment courts integrate substance use disorder treatment, including medication-assisted treatment, supervision, and judicial oversight to reduce recidivism and promote recovery.) Grant eligibility requires participants to be diagnosed with substance use or co-occurring disorders, meet court team-approved criteria (minimum: judge, prosecutor, defense, treatment providers), pose no violence risk, and lack charges or convictions for sex offenses (as defined in 34 U.S.C. 20911, i.e., offenses involving sexual acts, specified offenses against minors, certain federal crimes, or military offenses), child sexual exploitation, murder, or assault with intent to commit murder. (Thus, courts must consider criminal history, victim views, participant benefit, community safety, and cost savings in eligibility determinations; economic sanctions cannot impair treatment access or violate due process.) Grant administration limits costs to 10% for administration; requires applications detailing long-term strategies, best-practice adherence, and post-federal sustainability; and mandates nondiscrimination, competent counsel, evidence-based assessments and treatments licensed by state substance abuse authorities, and consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services.