Bill Overview
Title: AVERT Future Violence Act of 2022
Description: 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.
Sponsors: Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5]
Target Audience
Population: People impacted by efforts to reduce animal cruelty and future violence
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The bill focuses on researching acts of animal cruelty and their link to future violent behavior against humans.
- It involves the National Institute of Justice and the Department of Justice, indicating a federal level impact.
- The grant program aims to develop strategies and resources targeted at animal cruelty offenders, indicating these offenders are a direct target of intervention.
- The broader implication is on society's safety, reducing future violence against humans through prevention of animal cruelty.
- Researchers and law enforcement involved in preventing animal cruelty and related future violent crimes are indirectly in the target population.
Reasoning
- The AVERT Future Violence Act target group is fairly large with around 2 million potential direct impact cases of animal cruelty annually.
- The policy mainly benefits those involved in animal welfare and public safety, along with potential perpetrators who may be provided with resources for rehabilitation.
- The budget considerations indicate a significant investment year-on-year to address and prevent animal cruelty.
- Given the focus on research and grants, initial impacts might focus more on setup and early intervention start-ups, with more substantial impacts seen in longer duration.
Simulated Interviews
Animal Shelter Worker (Boston, MA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could really help us identify trends and intervene earlier.
- I hope it leads to more funding and support for shelters like ours.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Police Officer (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see how animal cruelty can be an indicator for other types of violence.
- With better training and resources, we could proactively prevent more serious crimes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Social Worker (Portland, OR)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Intervention at the animal violence level could deescalate domestic or societal violence later.
- Glad to see some legislative action in this domain.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
College Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Finding early intervention strategies for animal violence seems smart.
- Could make a difference in campus safety and beyond.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Lawyer (Miami, FL)
Age: 51 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The potential for diversion programs offers new avenues for resolving such cases.
- A good move for rehabilitating offenders rather than just penalizing them.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Researcher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The federal study could provide invaluable data in my field.
- I am hopeful that grants may assist in expanding academic research projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
Veterinary Technician (New York City, NY)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Educational and intervention programs could significantly support our work in animal rescues.
- Prevention should be a key aspect alongside punishment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Retired (Denver, CO)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy should've been implemented sooner. It seems very forward-thinking and humane.
- Hope this leads to fewer cases of animal abuse.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
High School Teacher (Dallas, TX)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Programs supporting animal welfare could enrich education as well.
- There's potential to teach students about empathy and consequences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Psychologist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Early intervention could help in treating root causes of future offending behavior.
- This aligns with trauma-informed care principles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $15000000)
Year 3: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $15000000)
Year 5: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $15000000)
Year 10: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $15000000)
Year 100: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $15000000)
Key Considerations
- The financial commitment concerns primarily administrative and grant-related expenses within the DOJ.
- Primary beneficiaries include law enforcement agencies and communities at risk of violence stemming from untreated animal cruelty.
- Long-term savings could be substantial if the initiative successfully predicts and prevents future violence against humans.
- Monitoring and evaluation of both the study results and grant implementations will be crucial.