The North Carolina Task Force on Racial Equity in Criminal Justice and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners are sponsoring technical assistance sessions to provide assistance on three American Rescue Plan funding solutions that address both criminal justice reform and COVID-19 related mitigation and behavioral health needs.
This session will provide an overview of diversion models and how to fund them.
Background: Diversion
In December 2020, The North Carolina Governor’s Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice (TREC) issued a report with 125 recommendations aimed at making our state’s criminal justice system fairer, safer, and more effective for all North Carolinians. TREC continues to work with stakeholders like the NCACC to implement these recommendations. Each week, TREC will highlight a recommendation that local government leaders can implement to improve public safety in their communities.
Well-designed diversion programs can conserve resources, reduce recidivism, and minimize the collateral consequences of justice system involvement. When diversion precedes charging, participants avoid the stigma and collateral consequences of a criminal record entirely. Adequate funding and equitable access are critical to the creation and stability of the social determinants of public safety, including substance use disorder and mental health treatment.
North Carolina has seen success with diversion programs like Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) and the Coordinated Opioid Overdose Reduction Effort (COORE) program in Orange County. These and other diversion programs prioritize public safety and promote alternatives to arrest that, when appropriate, prevent future crime by giving people the help they need.
If you have questions about diversion programs, please email [email protected].
More information and registration