Animal Violence Exposes Real Threat of Future Violence Act of 2022 or the AVERT Future Violence Act of 2022
This bill directs the National Institute of Justice within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to study the factors that contribute to acts of animal cruelty. The report must also analyze acts of animal cruelty as a predictor of future violence against humans.
Additionally, the bill authorizes DOJ to establish a grant program to support the development and strengthening of detection strategies and early intervention or diversion resources to stop acts of animal cruelty and rehabilitate offenders.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8659 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8659
To direct the Attorney General to conduct a study on animal cruelty,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 5, 2022
Ms. Clark of Massachusetts (for herself, Ms. Titus, Ms. Moore of
Wisconsin, Ms. Adams, Mr. Katko, Mr. Joyce of Ohio, Mr. Fitzpatrick,
and Mr. Buchanan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Attorney General to conduct a study on animal cruelty,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Animal Violence Exposes Real Threat
of Future Violence Act of 2022'' or the ``AVERT Future Violence Act of
2022''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Animal cruelty.--The term ``animal cruelty''--
(A) means--
(i) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly
harming or killing an animal, including
maiming, mutilating, torturing, wounding,
poisoning, engaging in animal fighting, and
sexually abusing an animal, or attempting to do
so; or
(ii) intentionally or knowingly neglecting
or depriving an animal of necessary sustenance
or shelter, or attempting to do so; and
(B) does not include any conduct that is--
(i) customary and normal veterinary,
agricultural husbandry, or other animal
management practice;
(ii) the slaughter of animals for food;
(iii) hunting, trapping, fishing, a
sporting activity not otherwise prohibited by
Federal law, predator control, or pest control;
(iv) medical or scientific research;
(v) necessary to protect the life of a
person; or
(vi) performed as part of euthanizing an
animal.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State;
(B) a unit of local government;
(C) a State or local court (including a juvenile
court);
(D) an Indian Tribe; or
(E) any other organization that has a documented
history of effective work identifying, intervening in,
preventing, reducing, or otherwise responding to animal
cruelty, or animal cruelty as related to interpersonal
violence (as determined by the Secretary), including--
(i) any organization that works directly
with or on behalf of pets, service animals,
emotional support animals, or horses and
collaborates with any organization referred to
in subparagraphs (A) through (D), including--
(I) an animal shelter; and
(II) an animal welfare
organization;
(ii) any organization that provides mental
health services to perpetrators and survivors
of crime;
(iii) any organization that develops and
provides training programs for law enforcement,
judges, prosecutors, other court personnel,
veterinarians, or mental health professionals;
(iv) a domestic violence and sexual assault
victim service provider;
(v) a domestic violence and sexual assault
coalition;
(vi) a child abuse victim service provider;
(vii) a provider of services to families
under the supervision of the courts or
departments of child and family services;
(viii) an elder abuse victim service
provider;
(ix) a community-based and culturally
specific organization; and
(x) any other nonprofit, nongovernmental
organization.
SEC. 3. STUDY ON ANIMAL CRUELTY, UNDERLYING FACTORS, AND FUTURE ACTS OF
HUMAN VIOLENCE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the
National Institute of Justice, shall carry out a study--
(1) on the underlying factors that contribute to acts of
animal cruelty committed by individuals; and
(2) that analyzes acts of animal cruelty as a predictor of
future violence against humans.
(b) Content of Study.--In carrying out the study under subsection
(a), the Director of the National Institute of Justice shall--
(1) specifically examine, through a review of scientific
literature, original research, and expert input, as
appropriate--
(A) evidence-informed risk factors associated or
correlated with individuals who commit acts of animal
cruelty;
(B) whether certain acts of animal cruelty can be
correlated with certain evidence-informed risk factors
(such as whether the acts of animal torturing,
tormenting, mutilation, maiming, poisoning, organized
abuse, such as animal fighting, sexual abuse,
abandonment, or neglect, are associated with the same
or different evidence-informed risk factors);
(C) whether certain acts of animal cruelty
demonstrate a tendency or likelihood to commit a future
act of violence against humans;
(D) the types of violence against humans most
commonly associated with certain acts of animal cruelty
(such as domestic violence and assault); and
(E) recommendations of areas in which future
research on animal cruelty is needed; and
(2) develop best practices for--
(A) early interventions that prevent acts of animal
cruelty; and
(B) interventions with individuals who have
committed acts of animal cruelty to prevent future acts
of violence.
(c) Recommendations.--The Director of the National Institute of
Justice shall submit to Congress a report containing the specific
policy recommendations, based on the study conducted under this
section, for legislative and regulatory action at the Federal, State,
and local levels to--
(1) address the evidence-informed risk factors that may
contribute to acts of animal cruelty committed by individuals;
and
(2) develop effective interventions and diversion
strategies for both juvenile and non-juvenile offenders who
have been convicted of criminal offenses involving animal
cruelty that reduce the likelihood of offenders committing
future violent acts against both humans and animals.
SEC. 4. STOP FUTURE VIOLENCE GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General is authorized to establish a
grant program to provide assistance to eligible entities to develop and
strengthen effective detection strategies, and early intervention or
diversion resources, to stop acts of animal cruelty and rehabilitate
offenders.
(b) Use of Funds.--A grant awarded under this section may be used
to provide personnel, training, technical assistance, data collection,
and other resources for the apprehension, prosecution, adjudication,
and mental and behavioral health treatment of persons committing acts
of animal cruelty, for the rehabilitation of perpetrators and the
prevention of future acts of animal cruelty or violence against humans,
and specifically, for the purposes of--
(1) training law enforcement officers, judges, other court
personnel, prosecutors, and mental health professionals to more
effectively identify and respond to acts of animal cruelty;
(2) developing, training, or expanding units of law
enforcement officers, judges, other court personnel,
prosecutors, and mental health professionals specifically
addressing acts of animal cruelty;
(3) developing and implementing more effective police,
court, prosecution, mental health, and early intervention
policies, protocols, orders, and services specifically devoted
to preventing, identifying, and responding to acts of animal
cruelty; and
(4) developing, installing, or expanding data collection
and communication systems, including computerized systems,
linking police, prosecutors, and courts, or for the purpose of
identifying, classifying, and tracking arrests, protection
orders, violations of protection orders, prosecutions, and
convictions for acts of animal cruelty.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated--
(1) for the purposes of carrying out section 3, $2,000,000
for fiscal year 2023, to remain available until expended; and
(2) for the purposes of carrying out section 4, $2,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
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