A NO COST COMMUNITY-ORIENTED & PROBLEM-SOLVING POLICING PROGRAM

 

The LEADER Program is based on community-oriented policing and diversion principles providing law-abiding citizens the opportunity to correct mistakes, while still being held accountable. It also provides the Department with the opportunity to reach out into the community and demonstrate a willingness to approach police reform in a positive manner.  Law Enforcement Agencies across the country have become innovative on ways to provide community outreach but every community is unique; “one size does not fit all." The LEADER Program is flexible and allows your department to easily modify the program to fit your community.   

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LEADER gives the officer a discretionary alternative that holds the citizen accountable but provides an alternative for the citizen being processed into the criminal justice system, appearing in court, having points assessed on a driving record, paying excessive fines, or sentenced to jail. The program also shows the public that law enforcement has embraced criminal justice reform by providing a program that is respectful of the citizen.

 

•  Officer contacts a citizen, whether through a traffic stop or dispatched complaint.

• After investigation, the officer has the discretion to issue a verbal or written warning, issue a traffic citation or non-traffic complaint/Notice to Appear, or make a physical arrest.

• If the officer decides to offer LEADER, then the officer would issue a Notice to Appear and provide a court date one month out. The officer would also provide a card/handout (we provide) that includes program information and a QR code for the citizen to access the program or, information would be printed on the Notice to Appear itself. We will provide an E-Notice to Appear which can be linked to your department records management system.

• The citizen has the option to appear in court and go through the court process (and have the violation on their driving record or court record) or participate in the LEADER Program.

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PROCESS: 

 

• Citizen scans the QR Code which takes them to Program website, (set up and provided without cost by Diversion Management), pays the $20 participation fee online, and scans the Notice to Appear by smart phone or computer within 5-7 days as determined by the department. If there is no notification from the citizen within the established time frame, the Notice to Appear is processed with the court/prosecutor and the citizen appears on the court date and time.

• Department is notified electronically by the program that the citizen has chosen the LEADER Program.

• Citizen participates in the required on-line course/video, (i.e., traffic safety, code regulations, theft/shoplifting, etc.), all of which is organized and monitored by us for the Department to then decide for each offense selected or the department can develop its own courses using department employees and/or citizens to emphasis a local flavor or add introductions and perhaps closings as you decide.

• Citizen pays the department’s established fee depending on the violation.  The department establishes a set program fee, i.e., $50, $75, $100, etc. or, the department can offer community service hours in lieu of the fee or both. Program can also establish fee payments to accommodate hardship cases as you direct.

• Citizen completes all requirements within the timeframe established by the department.

• Department is electronically notified that citizen has completed the program.

• Notices to Appear are not processed through the prosecutor’s office or courts, but are coded as “successfully completed” by the LEADER Program or however the department decides to track the issued Notices to Appear.