Breaking Down Barriers: Arrests decrease under diversion program
ALAMOSA, Colo. — Many people with an addiction to drugs or alcohol will end up spending time in jail. The reasons may be because they cannot afford bail, because they are picked up on warrants for missed court dates or because they are arrested for other crimes while awaiting trial.
This has led to crowded jails and overloaded court dockets nationwide; however, the southern Colorado town of Alamosa is looking to ease these strains by deferring criminal charges for some people as they seek treatment for addiction.
Since implementing its Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program in 2018, Colorado’s 12th Judicial District has seen a precipitous drop in the number of people arrested and booked into jails, as well as a decrease in the number of arrest warrants issued for people failing to appear for court.
As the district attorney for the 12th Judicial District, Robert Willett oversees criminal prosecutions in six counties, including Alamosa County.
