Hollywood/Rampart Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD)

The Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) was developed as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) legislation. COSSAP’s purpose is to provide financial and technical assistance to states, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to develop, implement, or expand comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs of abuse.

The objective of Category 1 is to encourage and support the development of comprehensive, locally driven responses to opioids, stimulants, and other substances that expand access to supervision, treatment, and recovery support services across the criminal justice system; support law enforcement and other first responder diversion programs for nonviolent drug offenders; promote education and prevention activities; and address the needs of children impacted by substance abuse.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) will (1) expand law enforcement referral opportunities to divert individuals who commit low-level drug and prostitution offenses as a result of unmet health, behavioral health, and socioeconomic needs away from the criminal justice system and into supportive services by broadening eligibility criteria to include individuals with histories of stimulant, opioid and/or other substance use; (2) reduce the number of individuals in Hollywood with unmet substance use, mental health, housing, employment, or health needs entering the criminal justice system for low-level offenses; and (3) increase access to harm-reduction services and case management, including overdose education and access to naloxone for Hollywood LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) participants. This project serves the City of Los Angeles (population 3,949,776). The project includes partnerships between ODR, Los Angeles Police Department,Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Community Health Project Los Angeles (service provider), and Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal from the University of Southern California.

CA/NCF