LEAD (law enforcement assisted diversion) Initiative
The Hamilton County Justice Center was designed for 840 people, yet each month, 1,300 people often occupy the jail daily. A large percentage of these inmates have been arrested and incarcerated multiple times due to addiction, mental illness, or homelessness.
The Hamilton County LEAD initiative aims to stop the cycle of arrest by diverting low-level criminal offenses from the justice system to an intensive case-management program where individuals receive a wide range of support services. Police Officers utilize their discretion to divert low-level, non-violent male and female offenders who may be driven to offend due to untreated addiction, mental health conditions, homelessness, or poverty into the program.
In 2018, Hamilton County was awarded a $500,000 COSSAP Grant awarded by the DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance to pilot the LEAD initiative in Cincinnati Police Department’s District 1 and Central Business District in Downtown Cincinnati. Since its launch, LEAD has been able to expand its operations to Norwood, OH and Colerain Township. The LEAD pilot is based on the first LEAD Pilot Program launched in Seattle, Washington in 2011, as a response to large amount of low-level narcotic related offenses. This model has since been replicated by many other states across the country. Hamilton County LEAD receives support and consultation from the LEAD National Support Bureau to ensure the program is in compliance with the program model and values.