The Drug Diversion and Treatment Program: Northwestern District Attorney’s Office (Hampshire and Franklin Counties, Massachusetts)

By Robin Olsen

The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, which prosecutes crimes in Hampshire and Franklin Counties, two rural counties in Massachusetts, runs the Drug Diversion and Treatment Program (DDTP) to divert people arrested for crimes driven by drug use and instead give them the opportunity to receive substance use treatment from a community partner. The DDTP takes a health-focused approach to its planning and execution, and it benefits from wide community support from a variety of stakeholders. This case study, which is part of the Mapping Prosecutor-Led Diversion Project, centers on the DDTP’s health-focused approach to diversion and the strong community and stakeholder support available to the program’s leaders and staff, highlighting takeaways for prosecutors looking to launch similar programs. The information included is based on the office’s response to the Mapping Prosecutor-Led Diversion Project survey and on interviews with program leaders, staff, and partners. This case study is intended as an overview of the DDTP’s diversion strategy and is not an assessment or evaluation.

Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2023. 5p.