Cops' Views on Philadelphia's Drug Diversion Program: A Mixed Bag

Imagine you're a police officer in Philadelphia. You often encounter individuals struggling with drug use. Instead of arresting them for minor crimes, you can send them to supportive services through a program called pre-booking diversion. We talked to 204 cops to get their take on this program. Most officers (78%) think this program offers crucial help to people dealing with drug issues. Many (69%) want to see it expand to more areas, and half (52%) believe more people should be eligible. But here's where it gets tricky. Over half (59%) wonder if this is really the police's job, and only a quarter (27%) think it'll make the city safer.

When we dug deeper using some math (bivariate x 2 tests and multivariate logistic regression), we found that officers who think the department values these referrals were more likely to agree that the program improves safety and provides vital services. They also saw it fitting their role. So, what's the deal? Cops see the value in helping people with drug problems but worry about whether it's their job and if it'll make the streets safer. It's like they're caught between a rock and a hard place.

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