The Office of Attorney General’s Program with Local Law Enforcement Connects Individuals to Treatment
BUTLER — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced today that Butler County has joined the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative (LETI), a collaborative program launched by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and law enforcement to divert individuals in need to treatment services.
Butler County becomes the 27th county to join LETI as Attorney General Henry continues efforts to expand the program.
PA LETI is a law enforcement-led treatment initiative that enables Pennsylvanians in Butler County seeking treatment for substance use disorder to contact probation and parole services, the sheriff’s department, other county officials, and community stakeholders, who will then contact the Butler County Drug & Alcohol Program.
“I applaud Butler County’s attention to this crisis and the need to divert individuals from criminal charges and prison when treatment services are in the best interests of the person and community,” said Attorney General Michelle Henry. “By connecting individuals to the treatment they need, LETI saves lives, makes our communities stronger, and helps to minimize the stigma associated with substance use disorder. I commend the work that District Attorney Goldinger and our law enforcement partners across Butler County are doing to help build stronger, healthier communities.”
AG Henry said partnering with Butler County law enforcement agencies and others under PA LETI will:
- Open their doors to those suffering from substance use disorder.
- Help identify individuals seeking treatment services.
- Assist with ensuring that people have transportation to treatment services.
- Maintain relationships with our local drug and alcohol administration to understand availability, and collect data to study outcomes.
In Butler 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 substance abuse treatment. 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.
The LETI program will continue the work that Butler County has been doing to address the substance abuse in their community.
“The LETI program is yet another resource available in Butler County to assist those dealing with addiction. This program will also provide an avenue out of the criminal justice system and into treatment for those whose addiction is leading them into criminal charges,” said Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger. “By treating individuals with addiction issues through the LETI program, Butler County will see a reduction in criminal cases in the system and an increase in sober, productive citizens. I am proud to collaborate with the Office of Attorney General and the Butler County Drug and Alcohol Program to offer this additional asset to fighting addiction. The ultimate winners in this collaboration are the citizens of Butler County.”
Since beginning in 2020, LETI has received nearly 900 referrals from concerned individuals throughout the Commonwealth.
“The Butler County Drug and Alcohol Program is proud and honored to partner with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Butler County District Attorney, and local law enforcement agencies in bringing the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative (LETI) Program to Butler,” said Donna Jenereski, Director, Butler County Human Services Drug and ALcohol Program. “Our partnership through this initiative will allow us to offer individuals access to recovery pathways sooner, reduce some of the strain on the legal system, and positively impact the stigma associated with substance use disorder.”
Agent Janene Holter, PhD, 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 Berks, Bradford, Cameron, Carbon, Chester, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Indiana, Jefferson, Luzerne, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. District Attorneys in Pennsylvania interested in starting a PA LETI program should contact the Office of Attorney General at 570-826-2483.
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