The Hard Work of Innovative Policing (Seattle Forward)

July 15, 2015

The Hard Work of Innovative Policing

Two weeks ago I spoke on a panel at a White House forum on innovations in policing about Seattle’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program. The LEAD program allows the police and prosecutors to redirect nonviolent, low level adult offenders away from the criminal justice system and to social service providers.

I’m a big fan of necessary innovations like LEAD as we seek on many fronts to address the failure of mass incarceration in this country. You may have heard this statistic: the United States accounts for 5% of the world’s population, but we hold 25% of the world’s prisoners. Our country incarcerates far too many people (including juveniles) and perpetuates a criminal justice system that punishes people of color at a much higher rate than their white counterparts. We’ve even shamefully nurtured a for-profit prison industry that now applies political pressure to achieve higher levels of detention and incarceration.

It’s just wrong to put individuals addicted to alcohol and drugs or suffering through a mental health crisis in prison if their crimes are low-level, non-violent, petty offenses. Unfortunately, as a society, we do it far too often.

LEAD is one response to this tragic reality.

Originally funded by foundations and applied only in the Belltown neighborhood of downtown, the program received $830,000 in annual City funding for 2014 and 2015 and has expanded to a wider section of downtown. Other jurisdictions across the country, starting with Santa Fe, NM and Albany, NY, are attempting to replicate our approach.

At its essence, LEAD applies and formalizes a longstanding policing principle: use police discretion to determine for each individual offender whether services or sanctions will better help the individual and protect the community. Police officers must be aware of the full continuum of possible options available to them; LEAD provides another tool in their toolkit. (Watch a brief video discussion about LEAD with a police officer, a case manager, and a LEAD participant.)

Recent evaluations have shown that LEAD offers a promising approach. A comparison of LEAD clients to a similar control population found that those in LEAD were 58% less likely to be arrested after they entered LEAD. Another study has found that criminal justice system and legal costs for LEAD participants were significantly less compared to others not engaged in LEAD. A third study, to be released late this year, will examine the impact on LEAD clients’ lives.

LEAD is a multi-disciplinary approach to very challenging public safety issues; it’s complex and it’s hard work for police officers on the street and case workers. It requires creative thinking and patience. But it’s clearly the right thing to do as we seek reform in our criminal justice system.

Posted by Tim Burgess on July 15, 2015 at 03:10 PM in Criminal Justice and Jails, Human Services, Mass Incarceration, Police, Public Safety | Permalink

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Burgess Bookshelf

Snyder, Timothy: Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary
This book, along with Snyder's earlier, On Tyranny, is packed full of useful policy ideas that can help rebuild our country. Snyder's understanding of the rising threat of authoritarianism is exactly what needs to be understood today, coupled with his diagnosis of how we have failed to support all of the people of America.
Putnam, Robert D.: The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again
Here's a hope filled historical review of how America has made itself more inclusive and equitable and can do it again. Very encouraging.
Sacks, Jonathan: Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times
Rabbi Sacks' book is essential reading, in my opinion, especially now when freedom is under such attack. His wisdom fills every page, his defense of liberal democracy is compelling.
Epstein, David: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
This is a compelling and great read. I love it since I'm a generalist.
McCaulley, Esau: Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope
While the white Christian church, especially evangelicalism, was the dominant influence in my family of origin and my youth, I've learned so much more recently from the Black church. McCaulley's book is a very good introduction to Black theology and biblical interpretation.
Yglesias, Matthew: One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger
A critical thinker and blogger, Yglesias lays out a vision for America that is more inclusive and equitable; includes good sections on early learning and the crucial value of immigration.
Thomas E. Ricks: Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom
This book examines the lives and efforts of two men who never met each other but who helped save democracy leading up to and during World War II. Another much read for those who are worried about the American condition today.
Timothy Snyder: The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America
From the author of "On Tyranny" comes another pithy look at how freedom and democracy can be destroyed from within.
Greg Weiner: American Burke: The Uncommon Liberalism of Daniel Patrick Moynihan (American Political Thought)
Fascinating account of the former New York Senator; good friend and colleague of our own Senator Henry Jackson.
Steven Levitsky & Daniel Liblatt: How Democracies Die
This is a must read for people concerned about the future of our democracy. One of their main points is that democracies begin to fail when the norms of civil discourse and the rule of law begin to crumble. We are seeing that happen before our very eyes today.