2021 Pre-Arrest Diversion Summit

Overview

The 2021 Pre-Arrest Diversion Summit brought together community members, advocates, government officials, first responders, service providers, and other stakeholders to support them in bringing pre-arrest diversion programs to Allegheny County.

Topics

Pre-arrest diversion programs connect people to coordinated health and social services in order to address public health, safety, and equity while reducing arrest and incarceration.

Summit Recordings

Recordings from the Summit are available as a playlist on YouTube

Day 1 Introductions and Keynote: 

Kurt August is the Deputy Director of Diversion and Deflection in the City of Philadelphia’s Managing Director’s Office of Criminal Justice. He presents on the work Philadelphia has done to implement a pre-arrest diversion program and is joined by Philadelphia Police Officer Valerie Felici, who will share her experiences from being detailed to this program.

Day 2 Introductions and Keynote: 

In this segment, we hear an introduction from Otis Pitts (Deputy Director of the Allegheny County Health Department) and a poem by Jamar Williams (Founder of Living on Purpose). Then Chief (Ret.) Brendan Cox from the LEAD National Support Bureau delivers the Day 2 Keynote.