U.S. Existing National Level Mechanisms for Alternative To Incarceration For Persons with Substance Use Disorders

The United States has extensive experience with alternative measures to conviction or punishment for people with mental health disorders, including drug use disorders, in contact with the criminal justice system.  Please find a brief overview on the following areas in this attachment.

• Measures at pre-arrest stage (e.g., deflection, pre-arrest diversion, co-responder deflection, administrative sanctions, citations in lieu of arrest, citations with treatment)
• Measures at pretrial stage (e.g., caution, conditional bail, conditional dismissal with referral to education or treatment)
• Measures at trial/sentencing stage (e.g., postponement of sentence, deferring the execution of the sentence, diversion through specialized courts, probation/judicial supervision) 
• Measures at post-sentencing stage (e.g., probation, early release, parole, pardon with an element of treatment)