Police & Peers
Program Overview
- The initiative seeks to address the unique challenges faced by individuals transitioning from incarceration to the community, offering enhanced services and fast-track access to support
- Designed as a progressive, fast-response program to confront non-violent Substance Use Disorder (SUD) issues faced by law enforcement during emergency calls
- Aims to enhance, not duplicate, existing services, ensuring efficient coordination and connection of vulnerable populations to vital services
- Decrease direct law enforcement engagements, arrests, and recidivism for non-violent drug offenses
Impact of the Police and Peers Program
Success stories from daily interactions between Peer Recovery teams and the individuals that they serve.
The Value of an Individual
“The Police and Peers team were at a community engagement where they met an individual who was interested in going to treatment. They were tired of living in unstable and unpredictable conditions, and with quality Peer work, they were encouraged to enter a detox program. The client completed detox and was admitted to an inpatient program and will soon be entering a recovery residence to further their recovery.”
When We Make a Difference Together
“I received a call from an officer regarding a individual whom he had responded to 6 times in a matter of 3 days. He had tried to talk to her about the possibility of going to treatment multiple times in the past, but the individual wasn’t interested. The officer made the connection, and I went inside a gas station and sat down at the table and talked with the individual for awhile just getting to know her and sharing a little about myself and my personal recovery.
After talking for about 30 minutes, I asked the individual if she would try a detox facility to get her out of the cold for a few nights and she agreed. She told me that she did not want to live like that anymore, so I asked if she would rather go to a 30-day treatment center, and once again, she agreed! I called and got her treatment placement and drove her straight there. She also asked for assistance with some clothing and I was able to call a community partner to provide clothing for her within just a few days. The officer who had called me was amazed that I had gotten her to go to treatment and told me how grateful he was. It was an honor to be able to help show that diversion works.”
Positive Outcomes
“The county’s Public Defender’s Office reached out to the peer team about an individual who had recently been released from incarceration and requested assistance getting stabilized in their recovery journey. They did not have food or shelter and would be exposed to the winter elements. We were able to connect the person to a temporary shelter along with food resources. Later, they were accepted into recovery housing and are now enrolled in a program called From Prison to Paralegal. They are working towards reunification with their children and have completed all the requirements imposed by the court system.”
