AB 2217 Expands Diversion Options for Californians Experiencing Homelessness, Mental Health Challenges, and Substance Use Disorders
SACRAMENTO, CA - Democratic Caucus Chair and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur's (D-Hollywood) AB 2217, legislation expanding California's successful Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program, has passed the California State Assembly with bipartisan support and now heads to the Senate. Sponsored by Drug Policy Alliance and Californians for Safety and Justice, this bill renames the program "Alternatives to Arrest" and expands eligibility so law enforcement officers can refer individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use disorders, or extreme poverty to case management and crisis services instead of making an arrest for certain low-level offenses.
"Too often, we criminalize poverty and instability instead of addressing the root causes that lead people into crisis," said Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur. "These programs recognize a simple truth: incarceration does not solve homelessness, untreated mental illness, or substance use disorders. AB 2217 expands a proven public safety strategy that gives law enforcement another tool to improve public safety while connecting vulnerable people to housing, health care, and support services while reducing repeat interactions with the criminal justice system."
Originally established by the Legislature in 2016 as a pilot program in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the LEAD model brings together law enforcement, public health agencies, and community-based service providers to divert eligible individuals away from jail and toward voluntary support services.
An evaluation conducted by the California State University, Long Beach School of Criminology found that, 12 months after implementation, individuals in Los Angeles who were not referred to LEAD had felony arrest rates 537% higher than LEAD participants and misdemeanor arrest rates 153% higher. The study also found the program successfully reduced recidivism while helping participants access housing and individualized services.
"The evidence is clear that when we provide high-quality case management and low-barrier access to voluntary services, including substance-use disorder treatment, we get better outcomes for people with complex needs than when they're cycled through repeated arrests," said Grey Gardner, California state director for the Drug Policy Alliance.
"Partnerships between local law enforcement and public health agencies are critical to creating safer communities," said Tinisch Hollins, executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice, the state's leading public safety advocacy organization. "AB 2217 ensures that cities across the state can continue to build on the success of Alternatives to Arrest programs. It is a great model of a public health approach to public safety, providing people with the help they need to stabilize their lives and improve community safety."
AB 2217 expands the program by adding additional eligible offenses connected to poverty, homelessness, and unmet behavioral health needs, including petty theft, second-degree burglary, and trespassing. The bill also gives local jurisdictions flexibility to include additional offenses with agreement from local law enforcement and public health leadership.
Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur serves as the Democratic Caucus Chair for the California State Assembly and represents the 51st Assembly District, which includes Universal City, Hollywood, Hancock Park, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and other portions of Los Angeles.
CONTACT: Vienna Montague, (916) 319-2051, Vienna.Montague@asm.ca.gov