Criminal procedure: alternatives to arrest.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on future funding amounts or which other jurisdictions besides Los Angeles will receive grants.

Alternatives to Arrest Program

This law changes the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program into the Alternatives to Arrest (ATA) pilot program, expanding its scope and funding.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the name of the LEAD program to the ATA program.
• Expands the types of crimes that can be referred to social services instead of arrest.
• Removes some requirements for social contact referrals by police officers.
• Requires local jurisdictions to use funds for planning, implementation, and services.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who might be arrested but can now receive social service help instead.
• Law enforcement agencies that will have more options when dealing with certain crimes.
• Public health or behavioral health agencies in Los Angeles City and County, as well as other jurisdictions identified by the board.

Terms To Know

Alternatives to Arrest (ATA) program

A program that allows people who might be arrested for certain crimes to receive social services instead of going to jail.

Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD)

An existing pilot program that helps divert low-level offenders from the criminal justice system into social service programs.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify which other jurisdictions besides Los Angeles will receive funding.
• It is unclear how much money will be allocated for this program in the future.
• The effectiveness of the program will need to be reported by a certain date, but it's not clear what specific details will be included.

Official Summary Text

AB 2217, as amended, Zbur.
Criminal procedure: alternatives to arrest.
Existing law establishes the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) pilot program, which is administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections, to improve public safety and reduce recidivism by increasing the availability and use of social service resources while reducing costs to law enforcement agencies and courts stemming from repeated incarceration. Existing law requires the board to award grants, on a competitive basis, to up to 3 jurisdictions to establish LEAD programs and requires the board to establish minimum standards, funding schedules, and procedures for awarding grants.
This bill would rename the program as the Alternatives to Arrest (ATA) pilot program. The bill would require the board to additionally award a grant
or grants
to the
public health
agency administering qualifying programs in the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles, as well as in
up to 3 jurisdictions.
other jurisdictions to be identified by the board.
Existing law allows a person to be referred to services through a program by a law enforcement officer as an alternative to
arrest,
arrest
and through a social contact referral by a law enforcement officer if they believe the person is at high risk of arrest in the future for specified crimes
relating to controlled substances and prostitution. Existing law requires those social contact referrals to meet specified criteria, including, among other things, verification that the individual has had prior involvement with low-level drug or prostitution activity and that the individual does not have a pending case in drug court or mental health court.
This bill would remove these requirements for social contact referrals and instead authorize them
if
if, absent probable cause to arrest,
the officer believes the person would benefit from case management services and is at high risk of arrest in the
future.
future and the person expresses interest in voluntarily participating in the program.
The bill would expand the offenses eligible for referral
as an alternative to arrest
to include, among other things, specified disorderly conduct crimes, shoplifting, or other violations identified by the local jurisdiction with agreement of the police chief or
sheriff
sheriff, the city attorney or district attorney,
and the implementing public health or behavioral health agency administering case management services.
Existing law requires the Board of State and Community Corrections to contract with a nonprofit research entity, university, or college
to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, as specified. Existing law also authorizes the board to contract with experts for the purpose of providing technical assistance to participating jurisdictions. Existing law appropriated $15,000,000 from the General Fund for the
program,
program
and authorized the board to spend up to $550,000 for the purposes of the evaluation contract and technical assistance.
This bill would repeal those
provisions,
provisions
and would require, upon appropriation by the Legislature for these programs, that the funds be granted to the entity responsible for
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
LEAD or ATA
in the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles and
public health or behavioral health
agencies in
other
jurisdictions to be identified by the board. The bill would
additionally
authorize the board to spend a portion of those funds on contracts with experts on the implementation of ATA or similar programs in other jurisdictions for the purpose of providing technical assistance to participating
jurisdictions.
jurisdictions, as specified. The bill would require local jurisdictions to commit to using these funds and local
resources to support ATA or LEAD planning, implementation, and services and not supplant local resources that had been previously dedicated to ATA or LEAD programs and services.
The bill would require the board to report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the program on or before
January
September
1, 2031.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF