Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD®) is a community-based diversion approach with two main goals: improving public safety and public order, and reducing unnecessary justice system involvement of people who participate in the program. LEAD® provides a tool for public safety officers to use their discretionary authority to divert individuals suspected of low-level, non-violent crimes away from jail and into community based services with the help of intensive case management. For more information on the LEAD® program model, visit
LEAD National Support Bureau. Program Coordinator: Josh Wolf, jwolf@co.marion.or.us
How does it work?
Deputies and officers may refer an individual to LEAD® in two ways:
arrest diversion when encountered during their patrol duties, instead of making an arrest, or
social referral based on history of behavior and conditions vetted by an informed group.
Program Newsletter
April 2023 Newsletter
Success Stories
The names of the individuals have been changed to protect their privacy.
Anna & Brian
When Sgt. Landers from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office first met with Anna, she was five months pregnant, homeless, and addicted to Methamphetamine. Anna was hesitant of LEAD and had strong distrust of the police. With a warrant hanging over her head and the possibility of jail time on the horizon, Anna eventually agreed to consider the option of LEAD.
Anna ended up going into labor while living in a homeless camp. Due to her addiction, DHS was forced to intervene hours after delivery, taking the baby into their care. With the help of LEAD, Anna was able to get into supportive housing to help treat her addiction, allowing mom and baby to be reunited again within just a few weeks. Anna was finally able to hold her baby for the first time since giving birth.
Brian, the father of this new baby, was also homeless and struggling with addiction with multiple pending arrest warrants. After receiving encouragement and support from LEAD navigators, Brian found an alternate path in a sober living house. On this path, he not only reached sobriety but also asked for help with a very important goal. He wanted to take the very unusual step of visiting DHS to voluntarily establish paternity rights and be a father to his new child.
With the help of LEAD, Brian, Anna and their baby are off the streets and living in their own place. With 7 months sobriety and a safe place to call home, Brian and Anna are able to concentrate on staying healthy and raising their baby together.
This is what the LEAD program did for Anna and Brian. This is what LEAD is doing for many others just like them. Thank you to all the partners who make this program a success.
Anna:
Length of time in program: 11 months
Police contacts/arrests pre-LEAD: Combined total of 14
Police contacts/new arrests after LEAD referral: 0
Brian:
Length of time in program: 7 months
Police contacts/arrests pre-LEAD: Combined total of 16
Police contacts/new arrests after LEAD referral: 0
*Names changed to protect privacy
Progress Reports
Lead two-year progress report - 2020
Partner Agencies
