DA Rollins Announces Funding for Community-Based Drug Diversion Partnership
Substance use treatment providers have until June 5 to apply
BOSTON, May 13, 2020— As part of a continuing effort to address the opioid epidemic and its impact on public safety, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins is seeking to partner with a nonprofit mental health provider to enhance drug diversion programming for young people in Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop.
In a Request for Proposals (RFP) released this week, District Attorney Rollins asked area non-profits to apply to partner with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for the coming year to coordinate pre-arraignment drug diversion for juveniles and emerging adults charged with non-violent offenses in Suffolk County’s district, municipal and juvenile courts. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office will partially fund a salary for a drug diversion coordinator employed at a community-based service provider who will provide case management services. Individuals who successfully complete their diversion plan will not face arraignment and the case will not appear on their criminal record.
“We cannot prosecute our way out of the opioid epidemic that is ravaging our communities. This is a public health problem, and we can only tackle it effectively by taking a public health approach,” District Attorney Rollins said. “Very often, when an individual’s criminal actions are directly tied to a mental health or substance use disorder, treatment provides better outcomes for these individuals, impacted victims, and the community as a whole. This improves both public safety and public health, while allowing my Office to dedicate more of our limited resources to addressing serious and violent crimes that cause the greatest harm in our communities. I’m excited for the opportunity to partner with a mental health provider to achieve these goals.”
The partnership that District Attorney Rollins seeks to build will allow assistant district attorneys and victim witness advocates to identify charged individuals who are likely to benefit from substance use disorder treatment and refer them to the drug diversion coordinator. The coordinator would then arrange treatment and provide ongoing support and oversight to promote the individual’s recovery. The model is based on the highly successful Juvenile Alternative Resolution (JAR) diversion program launched by Suffolk prosecutors in 2016.
Funding for the position is made possible through a line item by the state legislature. To be eligible, an agency must be a 501(c)3 and certified by the Department of Public Health to provide mental health services.
Eligible agencies interested in applying for the funding opportunity can find additional information here and the application here. The applications will be reviewed by a committee, which comprises stakeholders and subject matter experts, including medical and mental health professionals, policy makers, advocates, and individuals with lived experience. Applications are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on June 8, and a funding announcement is expected later next month.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.