The City of Atlanta is revising it's pre-arrest diversion program and contemplating ways it can set up a system through 311 that could deploy resources/counselors/trained interventions to individuals who are more likely be experiencing a mental health situation or suffering from effects of poverty or addiction. There is a survey that anyone who lives or works in Atlanta is invited to fill out.
Pre-arrest Diversion INFO:
In June, Atlanta City Council unanimously approved a substantial funding increase, which will allow PAD (Pre-Arrest Diversion) to expand citywide over the course of this fiscal year. Mayor Bottoms' recent Administrative Orders direct the city to establish a multi-year agreement with PAD, as well as to develop a plan to train all Atlanta Police Department officers to use diversion as an alternative to arrest. When an officer has already detained a person and can call our team instead, we provide an immediate alternative to charging and booking that individual through PAD LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion).