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Police-Assisted Diversion of Philadelphia

This pre-booking diversion program connects low-level drug offenders with addiction treatment and social services

For those struggling with opioid use disorder, contact with the criminal legal system can jeopardize the chances of recovery or, alternatively, be an opportunity to connect with treatment programs and social services. Starting in 2018, the Philadelphia Police Assisted Diversion (PAD) program has taken the latter approach for those apprehended for low-level offenses, including non-violent drug related crimes.

In lieu of criminal prosecution, PAD offers eligible participants linkage to community-based services designed to meet basic needs (e.g., housing, employment) and address addiction. Those arrested for minor offenses, called "stop referrals," are not booked (no information about the offense is placed in police records) but immediately connected to service organizations providing case management and peer support. Entry to the program can also be initiated by potential clients independently of any criminal misconduct ("social referrals"). By the middle of 2022, PAD had logged over 2000 stop referrals and over 1000 social referrals.

The PAD program operates in three Philadelphia police districts, and its agency network includes the city's Department of Behavioral Health, the District Attorney's Office, the Probation and Parole Department, the Opioid Response Unit, and several addiction and recovery-oriented organizations, including Prevention Point Philadelphia. Many news articles on PAD are available at its website, as is the program contact information, and evaluations of PAD based on interviews with police officers are here and here. 

PAD works with participants to address issues surrounding access to basic needs, access to treatment services, appropriate medical care, and the development and achievement of short and long-term goals.

Continuum of Care
Treatment
Recovery
Type of Evidence
Peer-reviewed
Response Approach
Diversion
Housing, Education, and Employment
Peer-reviewed Article
Experiences with the Philadelphia police assisted diversion program: A qualitative study
Police officer Perspectives on a Pre-booking Diversion Program for People who use Drugs in Philadelphia
Related Resources
Law Enforcement Pre-Arrest Diversion Resource Guide
Deflection and Pre-arrest Diversion to Prevent Opioid Overdose
Law Enforcement and First Responder Diversion: Pathways to Diversion Case Studies Series
Police, Treatment, and Community Collaborative (PTACC)
The Unprecedented Opioid Epidemic: As Overdoses Become a Leading Cause of Death, Police, Sheriffs, and Health Agencies Must Step Up Their Response
Police & Harm Reduction: How Law Enforcement Can Advance Public Safety, Public Health, and Public Confidence
RxStat: A Public Health and Public Safety Collaboration for Responding to Problem Drug Use at the Municipal/County Level
evan_leph_slides4.pdf

Evidence of Program Effectiveness

"PAD represents a new less-punitive model for responding to illegal purchasing of drugs, possession of drugs, prostitution, and retail theft in Philadelphia. Clients reported mostly positive experiences with the program, identifying the primary benefits as avoided arrest and relational support from affiliated service providers." Anderson et al. 2022.

"An overwhelming majority of officers agreed that the PAD program provides important services to people who use drugs (78.2%). Over two-thirds of officers (69.0%) agreed that PAD should be expanded to one or more other districts..." Shefner et al. 2023.