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NC Harm Reduction Coalition

NC Harm Reduction Coalition

Dedicated to the implementation of harm reduction interventions, public health strategies, drug policy transformation, and justice reform in North Carolina and throughout the American South.

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LEAD

NC Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC) is an advocate for implementing Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) programs in North Carolina. LEAD is a pre-booking diversion pilot program developed with the community to address low-level drug and crimes associated with sex work. The program allows police and sheriffs to redirect low-level offenders engaged in drug or sex work activity to community-based programs and services, instead of jail and prosecution. By diverting eligible individuals to services, LEAD is committed to improving public safety and public order, and reducing the criminal behavior of people who participate in the program.

Source: http://leadkingcounty.org. “LEAD” is a registered trademark held by the Public Defender Association (Seattle) for the Seattle/King County LEAD Policy Coordinating Group.

North Carolina LEAD Programs

In operation: Fayetteville Police Department, Wilmington Police Department, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Waynesville Police Department, Statesville Police Department, Mooresville Police Department, Catawba County local law enforcement, Burke County local law enforcement. Contact NCHRC for policy and procedure examples.

To learn more about LEAD program policies and evaluations from sites across the country, visit:

  • National LEAD Bureau: https://www.leadbureau.org. This site includes a site map of updated locations of community exploring, developing, launching, or operating LEAD program.
  • Santa Fe, New Mexico LEAD Program: https://www.lead-santafe.org
  • Multnomah County, Oregon LEAD Program: https://multco.us/law-enforcement-assisted-diversion
  • Seattle, Washington LEAD Program: http://leadkingcounty.org

LEAD Program Videos

  • Sante Fe, New Mexico LEAD: https://vimeo.com/184378713
  • Baltimore, Maryland LEAD: https://video.mpt.tv/video/lead-parts-1-4-l04d03/
  • Seattle, Washington LEAD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofga5S4LhqQ

Technical assistance and Contact Info

NCHRC provides technical assistance to law enforcement and/or community groups looking to set up a LEAD program in NC. For technical assistance requests, please contact NCHRC’s LEAD Coordinator Melissia Larson. Melissia Larson, Law Enforcement Programs Manager: mlarson@nchrc.org

North Carolina Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Team

  • Melissia Larson, Law Enforcement Programs Manager: mlarson@nchrc.org
  • Donnie Varnell (Retired NCSBI/Dare County SO), Special Law Enforcement Projects Consultant, drvarnell@gmail.com
  • Ronald Martin (Retired Detective Sergeant NYPD), Harm Reduction Policing Advocate: contact Melissia Larson to set up contacting Ronald Martin
  • Lars Paul (Retired Fayetteville PD): contact Melissia Larson to set up contacting Captain Paul

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Testimonials

“The help I got from the harm reduction program was more than just clean equipment, it was about being with people who didn’t judge me for my addiction, and who really wanted to help.”
~ Sam, a 50-year-old former drug user and sex worker in Carrboro, NC

“Too often, drug users suffer discrimination, are forced to accept treatment, marginalized, and often harmed by approaches which over-emphasize criminalization and punishment while under-emphasizing harm reduction and respect for human rights. This is despite the longstanding evidence that a harm reduction approach is the most effective way of protecting rights, limiting personal suffering, and reducing the incidence of HIV.”
~ Navanethem Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, March 10, 2009

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NC Harm Reduction Coalition

2154 Wrightsville Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone: (336) 543-8050
Email: Executive.Director@nchrc.org

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