Taos LEAD

Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
for Safer, Healthier Communities

Diversion out of the Criminal Justice System and into Intensive Case Management

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a public health crisis with overdose (OD) deaths over 100,000 in the US this past year. In Taos county, estimates are over 2,000 residents struggle with opioid use disorder (OUD). OUD, SUD and OD are treatable and preventable. Putting people in jail for low-level, nonviolent drug-related crimes is insufficient. There is another way.

OUR VISION:

To increase the quality of life for LEAD participants by using harm reduction services to meet their unique needs.

Our Mission:

To provide support to individuals, with dignity and respect, through a holistic approach in connecting them with the resources needed to increase the quality of their life.

Healing begins with dignity.

LEAD is a diversion program for low-level, non-violent, drug-related (potential) crimes. It provides intensive case management with a harm reduction approach prioritizing safety and basic needs first. LEAD is centered at the intersection of public health, public safety and racial justice, and builds a non-punitive, community-based system of response to better address problematic or unlawful behavior that stems from unmanaged substance use, mental health challenges, or extreme poverty. LEAD is designed to provide a new pathway to long-term, community-based care for people who commit, or are at high risk of committing, law violations related to their behavioral health challenges and/or income instability. It also provides long-term, client-directed, non-coercive, street-based case-management based on harm-reduction principles.

Community Referrals

Community referrals may be made by agencies who interface with individuals who have had, or are at risk of criminal behavior as a result of their SUD. LEAD is first and foremost a public safety initiative and not simply another social service program. Therefore, agencies who cannot meet the needs of clients with SUD, whose clients fall out of their programs, and/or clients involved or at risk of becoming involved with the criminal legal system may be referred into LEAD.

Eligibility

A LEAD candidate being referred by a community partner, or themselves is someone who MUST have a substance use disorder AND is involved with or at risk of being involved with the criminal justice system.

Note: Contact us for more details and further eligibility requirements.