Patching holes and bridging gaps: Implementing Law Enforcement-Assisted Diversion (LEAD) in resource-scarce...

Area of Science:

• Criminal Justice
• Public Health
• Social Work

Background:

• Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) is a pre-arrest diversion strategy.
• LEAD diverts individuals from arrest for low-level offenses to harm reduction services.
• This study examines service availability and accessibility in North Carolina LEAD programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how service availability and accessibility influence LEAD program implementation.
• To identify challenges in connecting LEAD participants with necessary resources and services.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using in-depth, semi-structured interviews.
• 49 participants interviewed across four established LEAD sites.
• Interviewees included LEAD partners and participants.
• Data analyzed using a blended inductive/deductive coding strategy.

Main Results:

• Some communities lacked essential resources and services entirely.
• Available services were often perceived as inaccessible by participants.
• LEAD staff actively worked to improve access to community resources.
• Resource scarcity disrupted the continuum of care, leading to participant disengagement.

Conclusions:

• Effective diversion programs like LEAD depend on accessible, comprehensive community services.
• Successful coordination and linkage to services are crucial for program efficacy.
• Inadequate community resources impede LEAD's ability to meet participant needs and optimize outcomes.