LEAD -- A New Program Designed to Break The Cycle of Repeated Arrests

Dan Satterberg with LEAD community partners

The PAO has partnered with the Seattle Police Department's West Precinct, The Defender Association, the ACLU, the Seattle City Attorney's Office, the Office of the Mayor, the King County Executive's Office and the Belltown community leaders to launch LEAD -- Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion -- a new and innovative approach to manage and more effectively deal with low-level drug addicts, dealers and prostitutes who currently revolve through King County's jail and criminal justice system.

The program is designed to divert individuals away from repeated arrests and bookings into the county jail, a process that is both expensive and time consuming for law enforcement.   Instead, officers can refer an individual to the LEAD program, in order to break the cycle of repeated arrests and incarceration by offering low-level offenders an opportunity to participate in a privately-funded four-year pilot program, through Evergreen Treatment Services. The program offers treatment, educational opportunities, housing assistance, and other services geared toward breaking the cycle of addiction and reliance on the low level exchange of drugs.

However, LEAD will not be offered to everyone.  It is only an option for low-level offenders.  Police officers on the street, who are most familiar with the neighborhood and the individuals in it, will decide who will participate in the program.

"Police will continue to patrol the streets for open air drug activity to protect the community, but now officers have a new option for those who have lost their way because of a serious drug addiction," said Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg.  "This program offers a new approach, and we believe that it is a win-win for police, the addicted person, and the community."  The PAO and The Defender Association are also working with the King County Sheriff's Office to offer LEAD in the Skyway neighborhood of unincorporated King County by the end of this year.

To read more about LEAD, please click here and here. (external links)