MARI arrest diversion program active
Wisconsin State Journal, 9 Oct 2017: A program in Madison to keep heroin addicts out of jail, and instead find them help, has started to take on its first participants.
The initiative lets Madison police officers refer people committing crimes related to substance abuse to an addiction treatment clinic. The clinic then assesses the person’s needs and determines what type of care could work for them. Early last month, officers began steering participants to the program.
Known as the Madison Addiction Recovery Initiative, the program provides assistance in navigating a sometimes difficult process of getting into treatment. It is funded by a $700,000 federal grant and expected to last three years. More...