Skip to Content List

  • Skip to primary content
  • Skip to footer content

Site Navigation Lists

  • Fellowship Application
  • Grantmaking Process
  • Contact Us
  • About
    • Mission and Vision
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Leadership Council
    • Impact Reports
    • Impact Photo Series
  • Programs and Impact
    • Our Programs and Impact
    • Education and Youth Development
    • Criminal and Juvenile Justice
    • Addiction and Health Equity
    • Community Fellowships
  • Grantees and Fellows
    • Grantee Database
    • Grantmaking Process
    • Community Fellows
    • How to Apply
  • News and Reports
    • Baltimore Justice Report
    • Newsletters
    • Reports
    • Impact Reports
    • Blueprint for Baltimore
    • OSI in the News
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • 20th Anniversary Speaker Series
    • Talking About Race Series
    • Talking About Addiction Series
  • Privacy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Community Guidelines
  • Terms & Conditions
Open Society Institute – Baltimore

Open Society Institute – Baltimore

Open Society Institute (OSI) – Baltimore : Audacious Thinking For Lasting Change

  • Fellowship Application
  • Grantmaking Process
  • Contact Us
  • EN
    • EN
    • ES
  • About
    • Mission and Vision
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Leadership Council
    • Impact Reports
    • Impact Photo Series
  • Programs and Impact
    • Our Programs and Impact
    • Education and Youth Development
    • Criminal and Juvenile Justice
    • Addiction and Health Equity
    • Community Fellowships
  • Grantees and Fellows
    • Grantee Database
    • Grantmaking Process
    • Community Fellows
    • How to Apply
  • News and Reports
    • Baltimore Justice Report
    • Newsletters
    • Reports
    • Impact Reports
    • Blueprint for Baltimore
    • OSI in the News
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • 20th Anniversary Speaker Series
    • Talking About Race Series
    • Talking About Addiction Series
Baltimore launches arrest diversion program with OSI support

Featured in
Baltimore Justice Report

Next Article
OSI Fellow’s project leads to settlement with MTA Mobility

Baltimore Justice Report

Baltimore launches arrest diversion program with OSI support

Monday, February 06, 2017

Content Social Share Links

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter

OSI-Baltimore director Diana Morris joined Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, and other leaders at police headquarters today for a press conference to announce the launch of the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program. (Watch the full press conference here.) LEAD aims to reduce the number of people jailed due to low-level drug offenses by diverting offenders to treatment and other support services and away from arrest. OSI-Baltimore, the primary funder of the program, made the announcement in late 2015.

For more than a year, OSI has coordinated and supported the joint efforts of Behavioral Health System Baltimore (BHSB), the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), and the State’s Attorney’s office to design and implement the program.

BHSB CEO and president Kathleen Westcoat started off the press conference and offered “a special thank you to the Open Society Institute-Baltimore, Diana Morris, whose support and advocacy has made this entire thing possible.”

Mosby introduced Morris and OSI, which she described as an “amazing organization,” and mentioned our work to increase school attendance and improve access to drug addiction treatment.

“The LEAD program is exactly the kind of innovative program we look to support,” Morris said in her remarks. “For people with substance use issues, the LEAD program decreases the negative impact of being pulled into the criminal justice system and increases the likelihood that they will find effective treatment. At the same time, LEAD improves public safety by allowing the police department to focus its resources on addressing violent crime while. It is truly a win-win for Baltimore.”

Baltimore Crisis Response Inc will operate the case management program with oversight by BHSB. Today’s launch was on a limited basis, but the program is expected to expand this year to include at least 60 participants and will be limited to those suspected of low-level drug or prostitution crimes.

In announcing the launch, Baltimore Police Commission Kevin Davis acknowledged the need to pivot from a criminal approach to Baltimore’s opioid addiction epidemic toward a public health one. “We’re hopeful that this will be another step in restoring more positive relationships between law enforcement and the community,” he said.

Police can refer individuals suspected of low-level drug or prostitution crimes to case managers for drug treatment, mental health services and housing aid.

Related Content

The Sun’s Justin George on the underpinnings of crime

Baltimore Sun crime reporter Justin George is interviewed in this Q and A from the Trace. George recognizes that the issues o…

Read More

Post navigation

Previous Article Previous UB Law Professor Discusses Bail Reform on WYPR’s Midday
Next Article Next Article OSI Fellow’s project leads to settlement with MTA Mobility
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube

Subscribe to our mailing list

OSI Logo

Open Society Institute-Baltimore
Bold Thinking, Strategic Action, Justice for All.

© 2025 Open Society Institute-Baltimore
  • Privacy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Community Guidelines
  • Terms & Conditions

OSI-Baltimore has permanently closed. It has been our honor and privilege to partner with and serve the Baltimore community for the past 25 years.

This website is available for historical purposes.  It is no longer being updated.

Skip to top of page