Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

§290bb–38 Grants for Jail Diversion Programs

Title 42 › Chapter 6A— PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter III–A— SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION › Part B— Centers and Programs › Subpart 3— center for mental health services › § 290bb–38

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must give grants to States, local governments, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations (Native American tribes and tribal groups, as defined in another federal law), public or nonprofit groups, and certain Indian Health Service programs to create and run programs that steer people with mental illness away from jail and into community care. The Secretary must work with the Attorney General, write rules and rules for measuring success, and require applicants to promise that community services will be available and based on proven practices (for example: case management, medication care, combined mental health and substance use treatment, peer support, psychiatric rehabilitation, and links to housing, jobs, education, and health care). Applications must show coordination between criminal justice and health systems, explain why federal money is needed, describe how the program will fit into existing care, say how it will continue after federal funds end, and give methods for evaluating results. Projects that help veterans get special consideration. Grant money can be used to connect the diversion program to existing care, expand community mental health and co‑occurring treatment, train staff and justice personnel, do outreach and crisis work, and develop ways to divert people before arrest or booking. The federal share may pay up to 75% of program costs and must fund new expenses; matching funds can be cash or in‑kind and the Secretary can waive the match. Grants must be fairly spread across regions and between urban and rural areas. The Secretary may provide training and technical help. Each funded program must be evaluated at least once every 12 months. Congress authorized $14,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §290bb–38

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall make grants to States, political subdivisions of States, and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations (as the terms “Indian tribes” and “tribal organizations” are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 5304]), acting directly or through agreements with other public or nonprofit entities, or a health facility or program operated by or in accordance with a contract or grant with the Indian Health Service, to develop and implement programs to divert individuals with a mental illness from the criminal justice system to community-based services.
(b)(1)The Secretary shall consult with the Attorney General and any other appropriate officials in carrying out this section.
(2)The Secretary shall issue regulations and guidelines necessary to carry out this section, including methodologies and outcome measures for evaluating programs carried out by States, political subdivisions of States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations receiving grants under subsection (a).
(c)(1)To receive a grant under subsection (a), the chief executive of a State, chief executive of a subdivision of a State, an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, a health facility or program described in subsection (a), or a public or nonprofit entity referred to in subsection (a) shall prepare and submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall reasonably require.
(2)Such application shall—
(A)contain an assurance that—
(i)community-based mental health services will be available for the individuals who are diverted from the criminal justice system, and that such services are based on evidence-based practices, reflect current research findings, include case management, assertive community treatment, medication management and access, integrated mental health and co-occurring substance use disorder treatment, peer recovery support services, and psychiatric rehabilitation, and will be coordinated with social services, including life skills training, housing placement, vocational training, education job placement, and health care;
(ii)there has been relevant interagency collaboration between the appropriate criminal justice, mental health, and substance use disorder systems; and
(iii)the Federal support provided will be used to supplement, and not supplant, State, local, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization sources of funding that would otherwise be available;
(B)demonstrate that the diversion program will be integrated with an existing system of care for those with mental illness;
(C)explain the applicant’s inability to fund the program adequately without Federal assistance;
(D)specify plans for obtaining necessary support and continuing the proposed program following the conclusion of Federal support; and
(E)describe methodology and outcome measures that will be used in evaluating the program.
(d)In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, as appropriate, give special consideration to entities proposing to use grant funding to support jail diversion services for veterans.
(e)A State, political subdivision of a State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization that receives a grant under subsection (a) may use funds received under such grant to—
(1)integrate the diversion program into the existing system of care;
(2)create or expand community-based mental health and co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder services to accommodate the diversion program;
(3)train professionals and paraprofessionals involved in the system of care, and law enforcement officers, attorneys, and judges;
(4)provide community outreach and crisis intervention; and
(5)develop programs to divert individuals prior to booking, arrest, or release.
(f)(1)The Secretary shall pay to a State, political subdivision of a State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization receiving a grant under subsection (a) the Federal share of the cost of activities described in the application.
(2)The Federal share of a grant made under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the program carried out by the State, political subdivision of a State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization. Such share shall be used for new expenses of the program carried out by such State, political subdivision of a State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization.
(3)The non-Federal share of payments made under this section may be made in cash or in kind fairly evaluated, including planned equipment or services. The Secretary may waive the requirement of matching contributions.
(g)The Secretary shall ensure that such grants awarded under subsection (a) are equitably distributed among the geographical regions of the United States and between urban and rural populations.
(h)Training and technical assistance may be provided by the Secretary to assist a State, political subdivision of a State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization receiving a grant under subsection (a) in establishing and operating a diversion program.
(i)The programs described in subsection (a) shall be evaluated not less than one time in every 12-month period using the methodology and outcome measures identified in the grant application.
(j)There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $14,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1216(1), struck out “up to 125” before “grants” and substituted “Tribes and Tribal organizations” for “tribes and tribal organizations”. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1216(2), substituted “Tribes, and Tribal organizations” for “tribes, and tribal organizations”. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1216(3)(A), substituted “an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, a health facility or program described in subsection (a), or a public or nonprofit entity referred to in subsection (a)” for “Indian tribe or tribal organization”. Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1216(3)(B)(i), inserted “peer recovery support services,” after “disorder treatment,”. Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1216(3)(B)(ii), substituted “Tribe, or Tribal organization” for “tribe, or tribal organization”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1216(4)(A), substituted “Tribe, or Tribal organization” for “tribe, or tribal organization” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1216(4)(B), inserted “and paraprofessionals” after “professionals”. Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1216(4)(C), substituted “, arrest, or release” for “or arrest”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1216(5), substituted “Tribe, or Tribal organization” for “tribe, or tribal organization” wherever appearing. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1216(6), substituted “Tribe, or Tribal organization” for “tribe, or tribal organization”. Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1216(7), substituted “$14,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027” for “$4,269,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022”. 2016—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–255, § 9002(2), substituted “and Indian tribes and tribal organizations (as the terms ‘Indian tribes’ and ‘tribal organizations’ are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act)” for “Indian tribes, and tribal organizations” and inserted “or a health facility or program operated by or in accordance with a contract or grant with the Indian Health Service,” after “entities,”. Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 114–255, § 9002(1), (3), substituted “evidence-based” for “the best known” and “substance use disorder” for “substance abuse”. Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 114–255, § 9002(1), substituted “substance use disorder” for “substance abuse”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–255, § 9002(5), added subsec. (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–255, § 9002(4), redesignated subsec. (d) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f). Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 114–255, § 9002(1), substituted “substance use disorder” for “substance abuse”. Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 114–255, § 9002(6), added par. (5). Subsecs. (f) to (i). Pub. L. 114–255, § 9002(4), redesignated subsecs. (e) to (h) as (f) to (i), respectively. Former subsec. (i) redesignated (j). Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 114–255, § 9002(4), (7), redesignated subsec. (i) as (j) and substituted “$4,269,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022” for “$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2002 through 2003”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 290bb–38

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60