At its heart, the legislative session in Albany is an opportunity to create policies that help people lead better, more productive lives. Granted, some policies don’t rise to the occasion, which means the policies that work should be applauded and funded. 

One criminal justice policy that the data indicates works is an alternative to the traditional criminal legal system. It’s a diversion program called LEAD: Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, which provides harm reduction case management for people who otherwise may be arrested for behaviors related to mental health, substance use, homelessness or poverty.

The city of Albany was the third locality in the nation to establish a LEAD program. Today, more than 60 jurisdictions across the United States have adopted this policy. With a budget of just under $1 million cobbled together from city, state and federal funding sources, the program gets a big bang for the buck according to LEAD’s co-project manager Jennie Huling.

Huling discussed the program with Capital Tonight host Susan Arbetter.