LEAD stands for Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion programs, and it works pretty much the way it sounds: An officer might meet someone in the community who has a small amount of narcotics on them — just enough for personal use. And instead of taking them to jail, they give them contact info for social workers with the diversion program. If they make the first meeting, they don’t get charged with a crime.
The program recently got an infusion of funding from Governor Josh Stein, which will benefit the programs with the Fayetteville Police Department, Albemarle Police Department, Gaston County Police Department, Greensboro Police Department and Community Safety Department, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, and Harnett County Sheriff’s Office.
The goal is to offer a helping hand without applying too much pressure. Jamie Melvin is the Justice Services Director at Coastal Horizons, which runs the LEAD program in Wilmington. She agreed that this is a bridge someone struggling with addiction can’t burn down…