Atlanta’s approach to public safety is not just about building new facilities. It is also about using what the City already has in smarter ways.
The Center for Diversion and Services is one example. Rather than constructing a new building, the City reworked space inside the Atlanta City Detention Center to create a place designed for care, assessment, and support. The goal is to give law enforcement an alternative when they encounter people on the street whose challenges are rooted in mental health needs, substance use, or other barriers where jail is not the right answer.
Commissioner Chris Davis of the Department of Enterprise Asset Management said the City recognized that many encounters do not require incarceration. Instead, they require a different response. To make that possible, a portion of the detention center’s first floor was carved out and redesigned to function as a diversion center with its own layout, purpose, and specialized team.
This work reflects the kind of infrastructure investment made possible through the Moving Atlanta Forward Infrastructure Bond. By adapting existing facilities, the City added a new function within an operational building without expanding its footprint. The challenge was not starting from scratch, but rethinking how space could be used to better serve people and improve outcomes.
The redesigned area supports immediate stabilization and connection to services, while allowing the rest of the facility to continue its core operations. It is a practical example of how infrastructure investments can support public safety, health, and dignity at the same time.
By reusing and modernizing existing space, Atlanta is showing how infrastructure work can go beyond roads and buildings. It can also reshape how the City responds to complex needs and create systems that work better for residents and first responders alike.
