Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD®) is a community-based diversion approach with two main goals: improving public safety and public order, and reducing unnecessary justice system involvement of people who participate in the program. LEAD® provides a tool for public safety officers to use their discretionary authority to divert individuals suspected of low-level, non-violent crimes away from jail and into community based services with the help of intensive case management. For more information on the LEAD® program model, visit
LEAD National Support Bureau. Program Coordinator: Josh Wolf, jwolf@co.marion.or.us
How does it work?
Deputies and officers may refer an individual to LEAD® in two ways:
arrest diversion when encountered during their patrol duties, instead of making an arrest, or
social referral based on history of behavior and conditions vetted by an informed group.
Program Newsletter
November 2023
Judith's Success Story
Prior to joining
LEAD, Judith had been living on the streets of Salem since 2015 and was
homeless due to her addiction. Upon learning she was pregnant in January of
2021, she knew she had to do something different. Shortly after starting
treatment at Her Place, Judy was referred to LEAD as a Social Referral by
Officer Perez with Keizer PD. Since joining the LEAD program Judith has given
birth to a healthy baby boy. She has maintained custody of her son while
completing treatment. In addition to LEAD, Judith also utilized many other
resources throughout Marion County such as MOMS, MOMS+, TOTS Court, parenting
classes, as well as twelve step and faith-based recovery fellowships.
After her
first year clean, Renee, Judith's Navigator, helped her move into an Oxford
house where she began to seek employment and regain custody of her two other
daughters who live out of state. While there, Judith got an internship with
Project Able as well as received approval for SSI disability. Judith had at
this point decided that she wanted to work in the recovery field and give back
to the community that she had taken so much from in her addiction, and as such
perused her certification as a Recovery Mentor. After 6 months of living in
Oxford, Judith was awarded a housing voucher which enabled her to move into an
apartment. Now with over two years of recovery, Judith is self-supporting
through her own contributions. While she is currently a supervisor in the
hospitality field she is still actively seeking employment as a Certified
Recovery Mentor as was her initial goal over a year ago.
Judith remains
grateful at her second chance in life, she also remains perseverant with
regaining custody of her older daughters who are still out of state. She
maintains her recovery by attending 12 step meeting and being of service to the
fellowship. Judith is an inspiring person to talk to. She is always there to
help those trying to make a change in their lives and is a good friend to her
peers. She has overcome so many obstacles and still continues today to take
action against the barriers holding her back from her goals. Judith is living
proof that people can grow self-confidence, patience, knowledge and
self-sustainability if given the opportunity.
Progress Report and Statistics
Lead two-year progress report - 2020
Partner Agencies
