Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy is pleased to announce a $898,000 United States Department of Justice grant the county applied for to reinvigorate the Albany Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program. The money will be used to help those who suffer from mental health and addiction issues by diverting them from the criminal justice system through a collaborative partnership.

“I have been talking for months about being involved in the process of hiring a new leader for LEAD and this will give that leader, Brian Hawley, nearly a million dollars to balance public health, criminal justice, and community engagement to directly address communities disproportionately impacted by opioid abuse and crime,” said McCoy.

“Albany County departments provide many of the services LEAD uses and this money is a game changer during a financially challenging time and one in which mental health and addiction issues have increased,” McCoy continued. “I look forward to working with all of the lead partners including Sheriff Apple, District Attorney Soares, Mayor Sheehan, City of Albany Police Department, Center for Law and Justice, and Central Avenue Business Improvement District as well as Catholic Charities and the LEAD National Support Bureau. I want to thank Attorney General William Barr as well as thank my staff for working so hard to get this grant.”

Albany’s LEAD Program was first established in 2016 and has resulted in 215 diversions to date, 125 of which are still actively receiving case management.