Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (US)

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Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (US) - Wikipedia

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In the United States, Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) is a pre-booking diversion model that provides police with an alternative to criminal prosecution in cases involving low-level crimes related to drug use, mental health issues, and poverty. The multi-agency approach allows police officers to refer individuals to behavioral health services rather than arrest them. The model was developed in Seattle, Washington, where a pilot program was launched in 2011. LEAD programs have since been adopted nationally in the US.^[1]^[2]

Philosophy, rationale and objectives

LEAD takes a harm reduction approach; in substance use cases, abstinence is not required. The primary goal is to reduce the harms caused by repeated interactions with the criminal justice system (CJS).^[3] Nearly a quarter of the over two million people incarcerated in the US are there for drug-related crimes, and substance use disorders (SUD) are more prevalent in the prison population than in the general public. Those with SUDs are at significantly greater risk of overdose death after involvement with the CJS.^[4] Additional goals include reducing reliance on the CJS, and improving working relationships between police and community-based service providers.^[3]

History

In October 2011, LEAD was launched in Seattle as a four-year pilot program, with private foundation funding of $950,000 a year.^[5] The multi-agency collaboration included the Seattle Police Department, the King County Sheriff’s Office, the King County Prosecutor, the Seattle City Attorney, the Washington State Department of Corrections, Evergreen Treatment Services, the Washington American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the Public Defender Association’s Racial Disparity Project.^[3] Rollout began in the drug-troubled Belltown neighborhood, with hand-picked participants: low-level drug dealers, addicts and prostitutes who had been repeatedly arrested. Individualized programs offered services including drug treatment, housing assistance, education, and microloans for business start-ups.^[5] The program proved successful and became LEAD Seattle/King County.^[6]^[7]

Implementation

Police officers use their discretion to refer an individual arrested for minor offences to a case manager who assesses the client and creates a personalized intervention plan.^[3]

Efficacy

Participants in the Seattle/King County LEAD program were less likely to be arrested and face felony charges, compared to those charged with similar crimes. Improvements in employment, housing, financial security, relationships with police and quality of life were noted.^[4]

References

^ "Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD): A multi-site evaluation of North Carolina LEAD programs" (PDF). Duke University School of Medicine. 2022. Retrieved Mar 21, 2024.
^ "Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Grant Program" (PDF). Washington State Health Care Authority. Retrieved Mar 21, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Assessing the Impact of Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD): A Review of Research" (PDF). University of Cincinnati. IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy. March 2021. Retrieved Aug 26, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Joudrey, PJ; Nelson, CR; Lawson, K; Morford, KL; Muley, D; Watson, C; Okafor, M; Wang, EA; Crusto, C (Oct 2021). "Law enforcement assisted diversion: Qualitative evaluation of barriers and facilitators of program implementation". Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment. 129 (Oct 2021). doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108476. PMC 8380645. PMID 34080562.
^ ^a ^b Green, Sara Jean (Oct 13, 2011). "Seattle program aims to break the habit of incarceration". Seattle Times. Retrieved Aug 27, 2024.
^ Green, Sara Jean (Sep 12, 2018). "LEAD program, aimed at helping instead of punishing addicts, to expand to Burien". Seattle Times. Retrieved Aug 27, 2024.
^ "LEAD Seattle/King County". LEAD Seattle/King County. Retrieved Aug 27, 2024.

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