Program Connects Individuals to Services for Substance Use Disorder or Behavioral Health Needs
LEBANON — Attorney General Dave Sunday — in collaboration with Lebanon County leaders — announced a launch of the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative (LETI), with the program to include a behavioral health component, expanding the pool of potential participants.
Lebanon becomes the 34th county to launch LETI, a collaborative program led by the Office of Attorney General in partnership with district attorney’s offices and other law enforcement to divert individuals struggling with substance use disorder or with behavioral health needs from potential criminal prosecution.
Last week, Columbia, Montour, Snyder, and Union Counties became the first counties to launch LETI with the behavioral health services component, which will add another layer of individualized care, based on participants’ specific needs.
“Every county that commits to the LETI model is making an investment in the needs and long-term care and stability of their communities,” Attorney General Sunday said. “We have seen this program transform lives, and it is my hope that the expansion of the program will provide even more people with opportunities for successful recovery.”
AG Sunday said partnering with Lebanon County law enforcement agencies PA LETI will:
- Strengthen community efforts to redirect individuals struggling with substance use or behavioral health away from arrest or incarceration and toward community-based treatment and recovery services.
- Create more accessible pathways to treatment and case management by empowering law enforcement and prosecutors to make direct referrals to CMSU for substance use, behavioral health or both.
- Foster trust and collaboration between law enforcement, the District Attorney’s office and the communities they serve by offering help and resources rather than arrest and furtherance of prosecution when able.
Pier Hess Graf, Lebanon County District Attorney, said:
“While my Office remains committed to tough prosecutions of violent and heinous criminal acts, we also recognize that the criminal justice system today must provide alternatives to incarceration for those individuals who truly deserve and need a chance at treatment. Partnering with local agencies and the Office of the Attorney General for the LETI program provides one more avenue of opportunity for those who fit the arc of redemption. If treatment prevents future crime and victimization of innocent citizens, everyone wins.”
Once the program is up and running, individuals can walk into the police station, probation office, sheriff’s department, or the local drug and alcohol authority and ask to be connected to drug and alcohol or behavioral health services. This program also empowers law enforcement to offer treatment to people suffering from addiction and will help stop the revolving door that exists for individuals who do not receive treatment.
To date, LETI has received over 2,500 referrals from concerned individuals throughout the Commonwealth.
Agent Lauren Diller is the Office of Attorney General’s dedicated full-time agent who coordinates PA LETI. Her work includes training, writing policies for each participating county, convening key community stakeholders, and case management of LETI referrals.
LETI currently operates in Armstrong, Berks, Bradford, Butler, Cameron, Carbon, Chester, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Indiana, Jefferson, Luzerne, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Union, Wayne, Wyoming, and Northampton counties.
District Attorneys in Pennsylvania interested in starting or expanding a PA LETI program should contact the Office of Attorney General at 717-787-3391 or 833-OAG-4YOU.
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