Program Connects Individuals to Services for Substance Use Disorder or Behavioral Health Needs
LEWISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced an expansion of the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative (LETI) to include behavioral health services — as well as launches of the program in four central Pennsylvania counties.
Columbia, Montour, Snyder, and Union Counties are the first counties to launch LETI with the behavioral health services component, which will add another layer of individualized care, based on their needs and assessment.
LETI is a collaborative program launched by the Office of Attorney General in partnership with district attorney’s offices and other law enforcement to divert individuals suffering from substance use disorder or from behavioral health concerns from potential criminal prosecution by being referred to treatment services or case management.
“I commend each of these counties for recognizing the pervasiveness of the addiction and mental health crises, and for taking steps to provide an alternative track to prosecution that serves the needs of the individual participant and the community as a whole,” Attorney General Sunday said. “We have seen the LETI program transform lives, reduce the stigma surrounding substance abuse, and illustrate that law enforcement are willing collaborators in this unified fight.
”I applaud District Attorneys Lynn, Mattis, Brosius, and Kerstetter, along with our law enforcement and community partners across Columbia, Montour, Snyder and Union counties, for their efforts in building a healthier, stronger Pennsylvania.”
AG Sunday said partnering with Columbia, Montour, Snyder, and Union law enforcement agencies PA LETI will:
- Strengthen community efforts to redirect individuals struggling with substance use or behavioral health away from arrest or incarceration and toward community-based treatment and recovery services.
- Create more accessible pathways to treatment and case management by empowering law enforcement and prosecutors to make direct referrals to CMSU for substance use, behavioral health or both.
- Foster trust and collaboration between law enforcement, the District Attorney’s office and the communities they serve by offering help and resources rather than arrest and furtherance of prosecution when able.
In Columbia, Montour, Snyder, or Union County, individuals can walk into the police station, probation office, sheriff’s department, or the local drug and alcohol authority and ask to be connected to drug and alcohol or behavioral health services. This program also empowers law enforcement to offer treatment to people suffering from addiction and will help stop the revolving door that exists for individuals who do not receive treatment.
“CMSU Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (CMSU) is committed to developing additional opportunities to divert people experiencing behavioral health and intellectual disabilities/autism issues away from the criminal justice system and into supportive services and treatment,” said Mary Lyn Cadman, MSW, LSW, CMSU Administrator. “The creation of a Behavioral Health LETI program supports our mission by enhancing collaboration between CMSU, state and local police departments, and the Columbia, Montour, Snyder and Union Counties District Attorney’s offices to provide a behavioral health response instead of a legal response to a behavioral health problem.”
To date, LETI has received over 2,500 referrals from concerned individuals throughout the Commonwealth.
Agent Lauren Diller is the Office of Attorney General’s dedicated full-time agent who coordinates PA LETI. Her work includes training, writing policies for each participating county, convening key community stakeholders, and case management of LETI referrals.
LETI currently operates in Armstrong, Berks, Bradford, Butler, Cameron, Carbon, Chester, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Indiana, Jefferson, Luzerne, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Union, Wayne, Wyoming, and Northampton counties.
District Attorneys in Pennsylvania interested in starting or expanding a PA LETI program should contact the Office of Attorney General at 717-787-3391 or 833-OAG-4YOU.
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