Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1.2 Million For Kane County Diversion Program
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $1.2 million in federal funding to the Kane County Pre-Arrest Diversion Initiative. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, will support a new program designed to provide access to health care and other supportive services outside of the criminal legal system.
“The opioid epidemic continues to be a major challenge for communities of every demographic,” Durbin said. “Access to services outside of the criminal justice system can help properly address substance use disorder, mental health, and the problems created by insufficient housing. I join Senator Duckworth in applauding Kane County leaders for their efforts to meet these challenges head-on and recognizing that we can’t arrest our way out of these problems.”
“Making sure that folks have access to mental health and other community services is one of the ways we can work towards reducing recidivism and racial disparities in our criminal justice system, which is why I’m proud to join Senator Durbin in announcing new federal support for a program that would do just that,” said Duckworth.
Kane County plans to follow the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) model, which aims to improve public safety, reduce the number of people entering the criminal legal system, eliminate racial disparities in the system, create sustainability by reinvesting systems savings, and improve police-community relations.
The LEAD model relies on collaboration among local officials and community agencies to build relationships with participants who would otherwise be involved in the criminal justice system and connect them with necessary wraparound services. The model can help create positive outcomes, leading to a reduction in recidivism for participants and significant cost savings for the justice system.
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