What We Do

LEAD NEW ORLEANS – NOPD with case managers, LEAD Project manager, and Judge

Our Approach

LEAD info flyer

LEAD is a proven strategy to better respond to crime and disorder caused by people whose unlawful or problematic conduct stems from mental illness, substance use, trauma, or poverty.  LEAD seeks to reduce harm and increase equity by reorienting the systems that shape health and safety. With LEAD, stakeholders collectively build non-punitive pathways to long-term, community-based care as an alternative to arrest and prosecution for people who commit, or are at high risk of committing, law violations due to their behavioral health challenges.

Connections to Social Services

NAMI and Travelers Aid Society provide LEAD case management services to our participants. Through July 2024, they have worked with 140 people to facilitate connections to temporary and permanent housing, substance use disorder treatment, mental health services, medical care, securing essential documents, applying for benefits, transportation and food assistance, and providing court support. Our case management model is long-term, grounded in harm reduction, and is designed to support people on their own terms.

OUR RESULTS

 

Recidivism Reduction

In 2023, over 4 years, LEAD New Orleans resulted in:
58.8% public safety rate & a 53% reduction in arrests

In 2019 in New Orleans, one year of LEAD resulted in a:

79% reduction in police summons

35% reduction in arrest

72% fewer overall days in jail

90% reduction of days spent in jail per participant

Addressing Unmet Needs of Participants

In 2023:

CLIENTS SERVED – 73
HOURS SPENT WITH CLIENTS – 2,723
SOCIAL SERVICE CONNECTIONS MADE – 238
ARREST DIVERSIONS FROM JULY-SEPTEMBER 2023 – 15
SOCIAL CONTACT REFERRALS – 41

Goals of lead

REORIENT
Collective response to safety, disorder, and health-related problems
IMPROVE
Public safety and public health through research-based, health-oriented, and harm reduction interventions
Increase
Access to community-based resources for people with complex behavioral health needs
Undo
Racial disparities at the front end of the criminal legal system
SUSTAIN
Collaboration of local, state, and federal leaders to grow LEAD’s scale over time
STRENGTHEN
Relationships among diverse stakeholders

fREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Download Lead Fact Sheet
For communities seeking to learn more about the LEAD model across the country and around the world, there’s only one place to go: the LEAD Support Bureau. Staffed by a team of expert practitioners, the Bureau is the only authorized resource to provide training and technical assistance for LEAD.
Go To LSB WebsiteLEAD Toolkit
leadneworleans.org We work together to advance health, safety, and equity by replacing systemic punishment with systems of care. We are social workers, project managers, lawyers, outreach workers, people with first-hand experience, and policy developers devoted to advancing community safety and equity. LEAD is a proven strategy to better respond to crime and disorder caused by people whose unlawful or problematic conduct stems from mental illness, substance use, trauma, or poverty.