

In LEAD programs, police officers exercise discretionary authority at point of contact to divert individuals to a community-based, harm-reduction intervention for law violations driven by unmet behavioral health needs. ► What is Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD)? The following communities receive up to $575, 000 per year, funded through the Long Bill from the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund, to operate LEAD as a pilot program for a three-year term: These programs will be evaluated for effectiveness in order to request additional funding thereafter.

This partnership will be a requirement of all LEAD grants.Įffective FY 2017-18, the Office of Behavioral Health will receive $2,300,000 annually for three years to contract for up to four pilot programs. The main principle of LEAD is collaborative partnerships between local law enforcement, district attorney's offices, sheriffs, treatment providers, and other community stakeholders. This case manager then provides a holistic approach to connecting the individual with resources such as housing and substance use treatment services or enrolling the participant in vocational training courses. Instead of being charged and booked following an arrest, the arresting officer identifies the arrestee as a potential participant for the diversion program and subsequently connects them with a case manager. LEAD is a pre-booking diversion program that aims to improve public health and to end the cycle of recidivism.
