BRICK – The township was one of six New Jersey communities selected to participate in a pilot program called LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program) that allows law enforcement officers to redirect people with mental illness, drug involvement, chronic homelessness and poverty to community-based services instead of jail and prosecution.
“This is a program through the New Jersey State Office of the Attorney General,” said Council Vice President Andrea Zapcic during the most recent Township Council Meeting. The total award is $6 million for the multi-year grant.
The Attorney General selected the six municipalities based on objective data such as a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants, as well as a high rate of overdose deaths, a lack of accessibility to treatment providers, facilities and to emergency medical services.
The township will work in cooperation with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office, Bright Harbor Health Care (a mental health agency), Hope Sheds Light, the Ocean County Health Department, the Ocean County Department of Human Services, Preferred Behavioral Health Group, RWJ Barnabas Health and Hackensack Meridian Hospital. The health providers work collaboratively to assist people rather than put them in the criminal justice system, Zapcic said.
“This is a diversion program, so when an arrest is made – or rather than making an arrest and putting a person in the criminal justice system – they will work with these providers,” she said.
During public comment, resident Mark Vasquez asked if the LEAD program is definitely going to be implemented, and when.
Councilwoman Zapcic said yes to the former, but she was not yet sure of the timeline. “But it’s a pilot program, so it will be for the duration of the grant,” she added.
“Is this something you’ve done some homework on?” Vasquez asked.
Council President Heather deJong said it was discussed among the Council’s Public Safety Committee, and it was recommended by Brick Police Chief David Forrester.
Vasquez said the LEAD program began in Seattle, Washington in 2011.
(According to the NJ Attorney General’s website, this is true. The LEAD program started in Seattle and has been replicated in 20 other states across the country).
“This program, that reduces crime overall, is not really a great program, in my opinion, and I just want you to be aware that if you go to Seattle today…you’re gonna find that crime is down, but you’re gonna find drug addicts using drugs on the buses, fecal matter everywhere in your town, people are not treated even though they’re going through the LEAD program,” he said.
He asked who would pay for the LEAD program after the pilot program ends.
“It’s expensive to keep social programs like this open and going, but does it really fix the problem?” Vasquez asked. “It creates a bigger issue where you have homeless people [everywhere], dealing, selling and using drugs after they’ve left programs.”
Zapcic said she wanted to make it clear that Brick did not apply for the LEAD grant, but rather the township was selected, based on criteria, by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.
“They are very hands-on with this grant program,” she said. “It’s a pilot program, and we are under no obligation to continue it beyond the duration of the pilot program, and if it’s not successful in helping residents in town, then we certainly won’t continue it.
“We are very fortunate to have these resources,” she continued. “When people need help, they can get help; putting them in the criminal justice system doesn’t help them.”
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