A comprehensive initiative by government and non government, 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

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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

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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