law enforcement assisted diversion lead
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Transcript law enforcement assisted diversion lead
A comprehensive initiative by government and nongovernment, multi-agency and community partnership
to divert non-violent, low level drug dealers away from
jail and toward a productive life while making resident’s
feel safer and saving money.
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
Seattle
Challenges - before
Significant business and resident complaints of
drug related street disorder
Significant concerns of disproportianate impact
on people of color – ‘now’ and later.
Many of those arrested were only ‘subsistence’
sellers.
Very expensive for everyone involved.
Many sellers would be released and re-arrested.
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
Seattle
Working toward a solution
•Very committed police captain asked a very committed attorney who
litigated against the Seattle Police/Prosecutors “What would you
do for the community?”.
•Numerous ‘stakeholders’ including ACLU, public defenders, police,
prosecutors, elected officials and community met for over a 18
months to define the issues and agree on moving forward.
•Concurrent work toward obtaining outside funding to support the
effort.
•Defined thresholds for allowing/disallowing candidate participation.
•Convened street officers and supervisors to ‘table top’ and trouble
shoot the planned operation.
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
Seattle
Eligibility for L.E.A.D.:
Less than 3 grams of drugs being sold/in possession or a
prostitute.
The individual is amenable to diversion
The person is a ‘subsistence’ dealer, not ‘for-profit’
Person does not exploit others/minors for sales
The person does not promote others for prostitution
Generally, the person has not committed murder, arson,
robbery, rape, assault /gun violation, and no conviction in
the last 10 year of related but lesser crimes.
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
Seattle
Basics of pre- booking diversion:
Days and times for eligibility are pre-determined by service
providers & police commanders – officers are ‘blind’ until first
arrest.
Once arrest is made and person is eligible, officer meets service
provider at precinct.
Paperwork is completed & forwarded to prosecutor, who will
withhold charging unless the person shows non-compliance
later.
Imperative that no booking occurs, officers have ‘buy-in’ and
there is immediate access to needed services for qualified sellers.
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
Seattle
Core operating principles:
Immediate access to needed services v simple ‘referral’
Non-displacement of other treatment candidates.
Over-all philosophy is harm reduction; we know there
may be relapse and falls.
No time limit for participation as long as the person
shows continued desire to improve, but certain
services may be withdrawn.
Constant communication and case management
between agency/service provider partners.
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
Seattle
Funding partners – grants provided for 4 years:
Ford Foundation
Open Society Foundation
RiverStyx Foundation
Vital Projects Fund
Massena Foundation
Social Justice Fund Northwest