ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION
For years, Los Angeles County has operated the largest jail system in the country, with some 17,000 individuals in custody on any given day. But in 2021, the County embarked on a significant and comprehensive effort to divert people from incarceration and instead assist them with housing, mental health needs, and substance-use disorders.
In April 2021, the County selected LISC LA to implement key ATI programs in a $61 million, two-year pilot. These efforts included the implementation and expansion of several alternatives to incarceration related efforts, including Pre-Filing Diversion and Rapid Diversion programs and the Alternatives to Incarceration Incubation Academy.
Our work will ultimately grow LA’s ecosystem of care in a way that ensures that the organizations empowered during this period of investment reflect those most impacted by mass incarceration— communities of color and justice-involved individuals. Building the capacity of service providers is foundational to these justice reform efforts and is crucial to the work of furthering the County’s “care first, jails last” vision.
“I am so excited about the opportunity to learn and get my nonprofit off the ground. Every class has benefitted me and it has given me hope, inspiration, and is helping my organization to grow.”
— Deborah Roberson, ATI Incubation Academy Participant
Pre-Filing Diversion & Rapid Filing Diversion Programs
The Pre-Filing Diversion Program creates a pathway to housing, clinical services and case management for individuals arrested for certain misdemeanors and felonies at local law enforcement stations. The Rapid Diversion Program gives attorneys and judges the opportunity to prioritize these supports over incarceration, releasing individuals from jail and into services. Both programs expand the options of the criminal legal system beyond jail sentences – which can exacerbate a person’s struggles and fail to address their underlying needs – and increases access to care.
Incubation Academy
In an effort to advance equitable, community centered solutions to mass incarceration, LISC LA launched the ATI Incubation Academy. Designed and implemented by LISC LA and LISC's Safety & Justice team, the Incubation Academy provides training and technical assistance to small, grassroots organizations that have historically been performing community-based services but have faced challenges obtaining government contracts and funding.
The year-long academy begins with 10 modules over the course of 15 weeks, and focuses on organizational assessment, best practices in serving specialized populations, and contracting, as well as personal capacity-mapping and mentorship from established providers. Upon completion of the curriculum, the organizations have the opportunity to obtain County contracts to provide Alternatives to Incarceration services.
Cohort Demographics
LISC LA 2021 Annual Report www.lisc.org/los-angeles