Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 3 results  for your search.  View and Refine Your Search Terms

  • The Path Forward: Decriminalizing addiction through diversion

    Ryan Lowery

    July 29, 2021 |

    Las Vegas Optic |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Alamosa, Colorado

    In Alamosa County, law enforcement officers who believe drug abuse is at the root of a person's criminal behavior can refer that person to treatment and other services, rather than arresting and jailing them. The Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, used in multiple places around the country, has helped the county jail fewer people and send more into treatment. It also has caused a large drop in arrest warrants, because case workers help people make their appointments in court and elsewhere. Now, San Miguel County, N.M., is working to adopt LEAD, though it needs more treatment facilities.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Diversion program thrives on cooperation, embraces skeptics

    Ryan Lowery

    June 04, 2020 |

    Las Vegas Optic |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Alamosa, Colorado

    The Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program in Alamosa, Colorado, gives police officers the option of sending people to substance abuse treatment rather than straight into the criminal justice system. Used in non-violent cases, the diversion program is based on a harm-reduction model that uses a health-care approach rather than a punitive approach to address the underlying issues when a crime is committed. Some police officers object to the program's mission, but proponents say that forcing compliance would be counterproductive.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Arrests decrease under diversion program

    Ryan Lowery

    May 28, 2020 |

    Las Vegas Optic |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Alamosa, Colorado

    Alamosa, Colorado has lowered its jail population and the number of felony cases and arrests, and has broken the cycle of repeat offending, by diverting people with drug problems from prosecution into treatment. The local version of a national program called Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) was modeled on one in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which worked best when people in the program maintained a close relationship with their case workers. One of many problems those relationships solved: the high number of missed court dates, which result in arrest warrants.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

Go to All Solutions in Focus