The PAARI Promising Practices Guide is a collaboration with the Opioid Response Network to help support the work of law enforcement agencies deflecting people away from the criminal justice system.
This guide is intended to provide strategic guidance, support, and resources to law enforcement and public safety agencies creating pathways to treatment and recovery nationwide.
Introduction: The Promising Practices Guide
This guide is designed to help law enforcement, public safety, and public health partners develop and sustain deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs to help save lives and improve public safety. Substance use is a challenging and critical public health and safety crisis, as rates of fatal and non-fatal overdoses have reached historically high levels.[1] Law enforcement and public safety organizations are pivotal in addressing this public health crisis. Many police and public safety organizations are actively engaged in a dual approach; first responders are diligently responding to the enforcement demands precipitated by the opioid epidemic, while also facilitating access to treatment for individuals with substance use disorders. Furthermore, they are undertaking proactive initiatives to support and inform families and community groups that have been heavily impacted by this crisis. Their efforts are instrumental in the collective endeavor to mitigate the adverse effects of the opioid epidemic on society. Law enforcement and public safety agencies are important partners in any comprehensive effort to address this crisis.[2]
Law enforcement agencies increasingly view the problem from a public health lens.
While enforcement of drug trafficking efforts is critical, exclusive reliance on traditional enforcement-led approaches, such as arrest, prosecution, incarceration for substance misuse, mental health, and other social issues, have been largely ineffective in saving lives and increasing community safety.[3] Law enforcement agencies increasingly view the problem from a public health lens. Agencies across the country have taken their long-standing dedication to helping their communities and begun to translate it into more effective, evidence-based practices, aimed at opening new doors to treatment and recovery for those using drugs.[4]
The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI) has worked closely with law enforcement from its creation. PAARI began with one of the earliest examples of a deflection program, Gloucester PD’s Angel Initiative, and has since provided assistance and connection to law enforcement agencies that have implemented various deflection and diversion programs, including self-referral/officer-referral models, Quick Response Teams, co-responder models, post-overdose follow-ups, HUB situation tables, and more. The lessons we have learned from working with these agencies form the basis for this guide.
The Promising Practices Guide aims to help agencies adopt and implement deflection and diversion programs.
Research shows positive outcomes in communities where law enforcement and public health partners have adopted deflection and diversion programs.[5] Persons engaged in these programs are showing increased treatment engagement, reduced recidivism, and less involvement with the criminal justice system.[6] Communities in Massachusetts that implemented one or more programs had a reduction in overdose deaths over time compared to similar communities that did not have these programs.[7] Individuals who received medication for their opioid use disorder, were 50% less likely to die than similar individuals who did not receive medication treatment.[8]
The terminology around deflection and diversion programs can cause some initial confusion to practitioners in the field.
This guide employs the “deflection and diversion” terms because they best reflect the range of programs that PAARI has helped agencies adopt.[9] The first section of the guide helps to differentiate various types of deflection and diversion programs that have been implemented in the field.
The guide is organized in sections to provide a step-by-step way to help implement a deflection or pre-arrest diversion initiative.
Each section discusses background information about key issues and concepts, and includes highlighted promising practice examples and recommendations. Most importantly, the “Deflection Planning Workbook” (accessed at the bottom of this page) is designed to work alongside this digital guide. Each section has specific workbook questions to guide your internal program planning so you can begin taking specific steps towards program implementation. For example, you are first asked to assess any similar deflection or diversion programs already in place. Later, you will be guided through key decisions for developing policies and procedures. Completing each section of the guide and the accompanying “Deflection Planning Workbook” will help you develop a specific and detailed plan tailored to the unique requirements and situation of your community.
Local stakeholders, as discussed in the Building Support for Deflection and Diversion Programs section of this guide, should actively participate in the planning process. You are also encouraged to consult and follow your local and state laws/regulations when developing materials, such as policies and procedures for your program. Utilize the provided planning tools to organize your efforts, understanding that these plans may evolve. While thorough planning is crucial, it is the top priority to start your deflection and diversion programs to save lives and support community members with substance use disorders.
