Two public forums set to introduce pre-arrest diversion program

Instead of going to getting arrested, program would connect people to services

handcuffs

GENEVA – Two community forums are scheduled this week to introduce a pilot initiative, the pre-arrest diversion program, intended to improve public safety by diverting nonviolent offenders from the criminal justice system.

Both are scheduled for the public to learn more about this program, both from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The first one will be Wednesday at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin and the second one will be Thursday at the Geneva Public Library, 227 S. Seventh St., Geneva.

In March, Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain offered $50,000 of seed money from his court security budget to the State’s Attorney’s Office to fund a case manager to shepherd this new program, which is intended to reduce crime.

“When an officer encounters a person who is committing a crime, instead of placing the person under arrest, bringing them to the jail, then there’s a case number associated and they have to go through the court system … they’re going to be given the option to participate in this program,” State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser had said at the Judicial/Public Safety Committee meeting in March.

The person would be referred to a case manager who would walk them through the program, Mosser had said.

“We are looking for addiction issues, mental health issues or lack of resources such as homelessness. The case manager works with the person to refer them to treatment in our community as well as other resources,” Mosser had said then.

If the pre-arrest diversion does not work, then ultimately charges would be filed, she had said.

The training for officers will come from the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion or LEAD model form Seattle, Hain had said then, and deputies and Mosser’s staff would have to be trained in how that model works.

According to a state’s attorney social media posting, the LEAD model has been in operation in Seattle since 2011 and reduced recidivism by 58%.

The first rollout of the program will be in Elgin.