Treatment Court, Rehabilitation, and Recovery Act of 2025
The Treatment Court, Rehabilitation, and Recovery Act of 2025 would replace the existing treatment-court provisions with a new federal grant program to establish and enhance a range of treatment courts. The core idea is to fund and standardize specialized courts (and related programs) that divert or address offenders with substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health conditions through treatment, rather than solely through traditional criminal penalties. Target court types include juvenile drug treatment courts, family treatment courts, tribal healing-to-wellness courts, impaired driving courts, adult drug treatment courts, and any other courts meeting national best-practice standards. The bill emphasizes evidence-based treatment (including medication-assisted treatment where appropriate), ongoing evaluation, and coordination among multiple justice and health system partners. It also seeks to ensure nondiscrimination, protect defendants’ right to counsel, and require that federal funds supplement rather than replace existing state or local funding. The act sets eligibility standards for program participants, outlines grant administration and reporting requirements, establishes federal funding terms (including a cap on the federal share and a waiver option), and mandates an independent, national evaluation of treatment courts’ effectiveness. Overall, it aims to expand access to treatment courts nationwide, promote standardized practices, monitor disparities, and demonstrate whether treatment courts reduce reoffending and improve health outcomes.
Key Points
- 1Grant program and scope: Creates the Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program under Title I, allowing grants to States, state/local courts, units of local government, and tribal governments to establish or expand juvenile, family, tribal, impaired driving, adult drug treatment, and other treatment courts that follow national best-practice standards.
- 2Participant eligibility and safeguards: Defines “participant” as adults or juveniles with substance use disorders (or co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders) who meet team-approved eligibility criteria and do not pose a violence risk; excludes individuals charged with or convicted of sex offenses or murder/attempted murder; treatment court teams weigh risk, offense history, victim input, potential benefits, and cost savings in deciding participation.
- 3Program administration and standards: Requires definitions (including medications for addiction treatment and state substance abuse authority), coordination with health and justice agencies, regulatory authority, and adherence to evidence-based assessments and treatment, with protections for counsel and non-discrimination in grant applications and implementation.
- 4Funding terms and cost-sharing: Federal grants may cover up to 75% of total program costs (with potential waivers), allow in-kind non-federal contributions, and require that federal funds supplement rather than replace state/local funding. Applicants must detail long-term strategy, financing plans, and ability-to-pay considerations for participants.
- 5Accountability, evaluation, and capacity building: Requires annual grant reporting, and directs the Department of Justice to conduct a national multi-site evaluation within three years of enactment to assess target populations, treatment (including medication), recidivism, and outcomes; authorizes ongoing technical assistance, training, and evaluations, with emphasis on monitoring disparities and equitable access.