Jail diversion services restart in Atlanta

Residents can once again rely on ATL311 for help in emergencies involving people experiencing mental health and substance abuse crises, after a monthslong battle between the city and its founding pre-arrest diversion agency has finally been resolved.

The Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative helps residents experiencing extreme poverty, substance abuse or mental health problems to avoid jail time and connect with community-based resources. The city funnels clients of the initiative through the police department and ATL311 hotline.

But the future of the program has been unclear since spring, when legislation approving a new multiyear agreement with the city stalled after pressure from the mayor’s office. Last week, PAD officials said it would stop providing services to the city after the organization and the Dickens administration failed to finalize the new contract.

PAD leadership announced on Monday that the city and program have finally found common ground and services would resume.

“We are committed for the long-haul and we are just getting started,” PAD Deputy Director Denise White said in a statement.

The organization said it also plans to hire additional staff to expand its hours and launch a public awareness campaign encouraging residents to call 311 instead of 911.

But tension remains between the organization and the Dickens administration. In the week that PAD paused services, the city redirected mental health and substance abuse calls to the HOPE team run by the police department.