Policing Alternatives & Diversion (PAD) Initiative

Police Community Relations

The Policing Alternatives & Diversion (PAD) Initiative fosters a new approach to community safety and wellness by engaging in creative problem-solving to respond to community concerns, and addressing people's human needs with dignity, patience and care. PAD provides an alternative to criminal justice involvement through the following strategies:

• Provide pre-arrest diversion for people detained by law enforcement who are experiencing challenges with mental health, substance use or extreme poverty.
• Provide alternative response to people referred through City of Atlanta 311 related to quality-of-life concerns, (i.e. disturbance, public indecency, substance use, poverty)
• Reduce barriers to stability and increase community connections through care navigation, emergency housing, and direct supports.

Grant Partner Since: 2023