The Office of Attorney General’s Program with Local Law Enforcement Connects Individuals to Treatment
CARLISLE — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that Cumberland and Perry counties have become the 31st and 32nd counties to join 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.
PA LETI is a law enforcement-led treatment initiative that enables Pennsylvanians in Cumberland and Perry counties 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 Cumberland-Perry County Drug and Alcohol Program, Single County Authority (SCA).
“I commend Cumberland and Perry counties for addressing this crisis and recognizing the importance of diverting individuals from criminal charges and prison when treatment services are in their best interests, as well as the community’s,” said Attorney General Dave Sunday. “By connecting people with the care they need, LETI saves lives, strengthens neighborhoods, and helps reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorder. I also applaud District Attorneys McCormack and Merris and our law enforcement partners across Cumberland and Perry counties for their efforts in building a healthier, stronger Pennsylvania.”
AG Sunday said partnering with Cumberland and Perry 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 Cumberland and Perry counties, 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 Cumberland and Perry counties have been doing to address the substance abuse in their community.
“Bringing the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative (LETI) to Cumberland County will add yet another important tool to our crime prevention arsenal,” said Cumberland County District Attorney Seán McCormack. “Substance use disorders are the root cause of a significant percentage of crime in Cumberland County. The treatment of substance use disorders is a proven crime prevention tool. The LETI program is designed to provide treatment to low level, non-violent offenders to set them on a path to be productive members of society. We look forward to partnering with the Attorney General (your office) in this worthwhile endeavor.”
“LETI strengthens our commitment to public safety by ensuring that individuals struggling with addiction are held accountable in a way that addresses the root cause of their behavior,” Perry County District Attorney Clay Merris said. “By steering low-level drug offenders into treatment rather than traditional prosecution, we reduce repeat offenses, conserve law enforcement resources, and focus our courtroom efforts on the most serious threats to our communities.”
Megan Zabinski, a person in recovery, said her contact with law enforcement saved her life.
“I never thought the criminal justice system would be something I would promote, along with helping people in recovery,” she said. “I think the LETI program is an amazing opportunity and is going to continue to make a difference in the lives of people struggling with addiction.”
To date, LETI has received over 2,000 referrals from concerned individuals throughout the Commonwealth.
“Cumberland and Perry County’s LETI program provides timely and critical intervention for people who struggle with alcohol and drugs,” said Cumberland-Perry Drug and Alcohol Commission Executive Director Brenda Iliff-Lawver. “It meets people where they are and when they are vulnerable and open to help. Connection of people to a pathway out of addiction through easy access to support and services is the heartbeat of the program. It is another layer of opportunity that supports existing services designed to provide people assistance when they are struggling and to reduce the stigma of addiction. LETI provides the avenue to take out of the despair of addiction to become productive family and community members who live in hope of a new life. For many their new life starts with a LETI referral.”
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, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Indiana, Jefferson, Luzerne, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Union, Wayne, Wyoming, and Northampton 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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