Congresswoman DelBene Cited Inflated Success Rates for Seattle Diversion Program, Leading to Federal Funding
A recent analysis by the Washington Policy Center (WPC) indicates that the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, which redirects individuals with substance abuse or mental health issues away from jail, received significant federal funding based on inaccurate success rates. According to The Center Square, Representative Suzan DelBene of Washington introduced an amendment to the 2016 CARA act, claiming LEAD reduced recidivism by as much as 60 percent. This figure, along with others, was later found to be an overstatement of the program's actual impact. Eric Zimmerman, WPC's Director of Public Safety Solutions Policy, stated that initial claims confused a statistical measure of '58% odds change' with a direct '58% reduction in real-world arrests.' While a LEAD co-creator, Lisa Daugaard, acknowledged the inaccuracy in reporting the 58% figure, she maintained that the program reduces the likelihood of arrest. The HaRRT Center at the University of Washington, which evaluated LEAD, has refuted Zimmer...
