The Open Philanthropy Project awarded a grant of $200,000 to the LEAD National Support Bureau to support its work on law enforcement assisted diversion (LEAD) programs in some US cities, which are designed to reduce low-level arrests, racial disparities, and recidivism. This grant falls within Open Philanthropy's work on criminal justice reform.
A partnership between the Public Defender Association and the Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice, the LEAD National Support Bureau designed the LEAD program, and now provides strategic guidance and technical support to other cities looking to implement the program. The Bureau plans to use this grant for two activities: 1) to hire Chief Brendan Cox, a highly-regarded retiring police chief, to serve as a police ambassador for LEAD, and 2) to provide technical support to the 20-30 places that are planning to be implementing or considering implementing LEAD programs by the end of 2017.