TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Prosecutor to execute an agreement, and any necessary documents, including any amendments, to receive and expend grant funding awarded by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program, in an amount not to exceed $900,000, for the period through September 30, 2024; and
Increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund Group in the City Prosecutor Department by $900,000, offset by grant revenue from United States Department of Justice. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach (City) Prosecutor’s Office has been selected to receive a grant by the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ), Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program (COSSAP). This grant will provide $900,000 for the period ending September 30, 2024, to expand the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program in Long Beach.
LEAD is a national program that aligns local police and prosecutor agencies with social service providers for pre-booking diversion. Through LEAD, pre-booking diversion can be achieved when officers encounter individuals with lower level offenses, such as drug possession, public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia, but instead of issuing a citation or arresting the suspect, officers make a strategic referral directly to a social service provider.
Los Angeles County LEAD Pilot Program
In 2017, the City’s Prosecutor’s Office and the Long Beach Police Department were selected to participate in California’s first LEAD pilot program in partnership with Los Angeles County (LAC LEAD). The LAC LEAD pilot was funded by the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC). The pilot provided $5.9M for intensive case management, social services, housing, and program costs.
The LEAD grant ...
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