Fayetteville's LEAD Program Marks 10 Years of Steering People Toward Treatment, Not Jail

Fayetteville's Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, known as LEAD, is celebrating ten years of connecting people in need with help rather than jail time. The program is run through the Fayetteville Police Department.

Since it began in 2016, 158 people have enrolled. LEAD is aimed at people facing mental health or substance abuse challenges, and it redirects them away from the criminal justice system and toward treatment and support services.

A group of mental health and substance abuse providers joined local officials on Friday to mark the milestone. The gathering gave the coalition a chance to reflect on the program's mission and its impact over the past decade.

Shanon Drummond, lead case manager at Coastal Horizon, has helped people for years. Drummond said becoming a case manager two years ago has been the most rewarding work yet. "Just because you messed up, that's not the end of your story," Drummond said.

Describing the daily work, Drummond said caseloads are typically full. "My interactions are meeting with people, kind of strategizing with them on how they're going to proceed forward in a different way than what they currently been doing," Drummond said.

Fayetteville was the first city in North Carolina, and the fourth in the nation, to launch a LEAD program. The initiative has since reduced repeat offenses and improved access to care. Data show participants are four times more likely to receive treatment. They are also 36% less likely to be re-arrested or face new charges six months and one year after enrolling.

Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West praised the program's approach. He said the program recognizes that relapses and slip-ups can happen. "And the process really somewhat slows down the criminal justice system while the person tries to deal with their underlying addiction," West said.

West added that the goal is to give participants broader support. "We're able to get that person wraparound services and hopefully get them in a life outside of the criminal justice system," he said.

As the program reaches its tenth year, those involved describe it as a proven path to recovery and a second chance for many people in the community.