AVERT Future Violence Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill asks the Department of Justice to study why people hurt animals and if those actions predict future violence against humans. The goal is to find patterns that could help stop violent crimes before they happen.
• It creates a new grant program to help local police, courts, and mental health workers. These groups could get federal money to better track animal abuse cases and provide treatment to people who commit these crimes.
• The plan includes 2 million dollars for the national study and another 2 million dollars for the local grants. This money would pay for training law enforcement and judges to recognize the warning signs of animal cruelty.
• The study must be finished within three years. It will look at specific types of abuse, like animal fighting or neglect, to see which ones are most likely to lead to crimes like domestic violence or assault.
• The bill defines animal cruelty as intentionally harming or neglecting animals. It does not include normal farming, hunting, or medical research.

Impact Analysis

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