An Initial Assessment of Leon County Florida’s Pre-Arrest Adult Civil Citation Program

Abstract

Momentum is building behind law enforcement-assisted diversion programs. Some of these programs have been designed specifically for drug-involved offenders, while others focus on adults who have no prior involvement in the criminal justice system. The Leon County Pre-Arrest Diversion program, which has been operating since March 2013, offers first-time arrestees the opportunity to participate in an alternative to arrest-as-usual. Successful completion of the program results in avoidance of a formal criminal arrest record. This paper provides an initial assessment of participants involved in the program during the first 3 years of operation. Results indicate male participants, those who submitted a positive drug test at program initiation, and those who presented significantly greater behavioral health needs were more likely to fail to complete the program and become rearrested. These findings are discussed with regard to practices among pre-arrest diversion programs.

First Responder Assertive Linkage Programs: A Scoping Review of Interventions to Improve Linkage to Care for People Who Use Drugs

“…A fifth connection strategy, low-threshold access , streamlined linkage for individuals28–30,33,34,36,37,41,43 or referring first responders 33,34. Examples of the former included same-day telehealth appointments for buprenorphine within 24 hours, with bridge scripts as needed,36,37 in-house counseling, groups, or detoxification,33,34,36,37 or same-day, fast-tracked, or guaranteed admission 28–30,41,43.…”

“…Thirteen studies23–35 described 7 prebooking programs or programs with prebooking elements. Populations of focus included individuals involved in low-level23–31 or repeat32 offenses or with severe mental illness 32–34.…”

“…The remaining 4 studies with treatment outcomes focused on prebooking programs. Three studies28–30 measured completion of a 90-day behavioral health program, with the most recent30 showing that 91% of individuals completed intake and 84%, the program. Relatively few (2%), however, screened positive for substance use; furthermore, those who did were twice as likely to leave early 29.…”

“…33,34 Examples of the former included same-day telehealth appointments for buprenorphine within 24 hours, with bridge scripts as needed, 36,37 in-house counseling, groups, or detoxification, 33,34,36,37 or same-day, fast-tracked, or guaranteed admission. [28][29][30]41,43 One program [28][29][30] guaranteed admission by referring individuals to the same behavioral health provider and forwarding case information in advance, although eligibility requirements and lack of transportation assistance likely made this option higher threshold for some. When directed toward first responders, low-threshold access involved no-refusal policies and 30-to 60-minute intake procedures.…”

Substance use, mental health, chronic medical conditions and criminal justice contact in a nationally representative sample

“…This information also supports our growing understanding of the co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health conditions as leading factors associated with criminal justice contact (Jones and McCantz-Katz, 2019; Kopak et al , 2019; Wilson et al , 2011). These practices might include law-enforcement led programs that are specifically intended to address substance use and other health needs, such as the stop, triage, engage, educate, rehabilitate, the adult civil citation program or the Westside Diversion Project in Chicago (Taxman, 2017; Kopak, 2019; Main, 2017).…”