Atlanta’s Center for Diversion and Services is helping change how the City responds when someone in crisis encounters law enforcement.
Since opening in January 2025, the center has helped connect more than 1,200 individuals to services instead of jail for certain non-violent offenses.
The goal is straightforward: when someone’s situation is tied to mental health challenges, substance use, homelessness, or extreme poverty, officers have another option that prioritizes care and stabilization.
Building on earlier diversion efforts
Diversion has long been part of Atlanta’s public safety strategy.
In 2024, officers made 191 referrals to the PAD (Policing Alternatives & Diversion) program, which connected individuals to services instead of arrest when appropriate.
The opening of the Center for Diversion and Services in January 2025 expanded that work by creating a dedicated location where individuals can be assessed, stabilized, and connected to resources.
What diversion means
Diversion allows officers to connect eligible individuals to services rather than making an arrest.
To qualify, individuals must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Be accused of a non-violent offense
- Have no active warrants
- Agree to participate in the diversion program
Officers must also determine that the situation involves factors such as a mental health crisis, substance use issue, homelessness, or extreme poverty.
Chief Schierbaum emphasized that diversion does not replace officer judgment.
“I don’t believe in quotas for arrests, and I don’t believe in quotas for diversion,” Schierbaum told Council members. “I believe in the right fit for the situation.”
Addressing the root causes
The most common offenses leading to diversion last year included:
- Criminal trespass
- Pedestrian in the roadway
- Urban camping
- Disorderly conduct
- Theft by shoplifting
Criminal trespass alone accounted for 483 diversions, meaning hundreds of individuals avoided being taken to the Fulton County Jail and were instead connected to services.
Training and tracking progress
Officers receive diversion training during recruit training, in-service training, and regular roll calls to ensure they understand when diversion may be appropriate.
The Atlanta Police Department also tracks diversion activity each week, reviewing where cases occur and identifying opportunities to improve awareness and officer education.
A partnership that keeps officers available
The diversion model works through a partnership between the City of Atlanta, the Atlanta Police Department, Grady Health System, and community service providers.
When the center launched, one concern was how long officers might be out of service while waiting for someone to be processed.
Chief Schierbaum told Council members that Grady has helped streamline intake, allowing officers to return quickly to responding to calls across the city.
“Our officers work 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Schierbaum said. “It’s important they’re able to get back out responding to calls.”
Helping residents know their options
The Atlanta Police Department is also working to make sure people are aware that diversion may be available.
As part of a pilot effort, bilingual decals are being placed inside Atlanta patrol vehicles, encouraging individuals to ask about diversion if their situation may qualify.
The decals read:
“Ask your officer about pre-arrest diversion.”
Strengthening One Safe City
The Diversion Center is part of Atlanta’s broader One Safe City strategy, which focuses on strengthening public safety while also addressing the underlying challenges that can lead to crisis.
Just over a year after opening, the numbers show the center is becoming an important part of how Atlanta responds when residents need help.
