Substance Abuse Prevention and Control

Criminal Justice Services

SAPC offers a no-wrong-door policy for anyone to access Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment through the Substance Abuse Service Helpline (SASH), Client Engagement and Navigation Services (CENS), and self-referrals directly to Network Providers. The Criminal Justice Team collaborates with Probation, Office of Public Defender, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Department of Mental Health (DMH), Department of Health Services-Office of Diversion and Reentry and Integrated Correctional Health, and contracted community-based treatment providers to ensure SUD treatment for in-custody individuals transitioning to the community are coordinated and delivered with a warm handoff.

No-cost SUD treatment services are available to justice involved adults who are:

  • Residents of Los Angeles County,
  • Medi-Cal eligible and/or enrolled,
  • Those with coverage under My Health LA (which also covers services for undocumented individuals), or
  • Individuals eligible for select County funded programs such as Assembly Bill 109 (AB 109).
Services includes a range of outpatient, intensive outpatient, residential, withdrawal management (detox), opioid treatment programs, recovery bridge housing, and recovery support services. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment focuses on a patient centered, individualized approach, where a patient is supported throughout their recovery journey. Recovery Support Services (RSS) are available to justice involved individuals immediately upon release from custody (admitted directly to RSS without requiring prior engagement in treatment services). Individuals do not need to be abstinent from drugs for any specified period.

  • Adult Drug Court (ADC)
    The Los Angeles County Adult Drug Court (ADC) Program addresses the SUD needs of individuals cycling through the justice system. Through a partnership with the Los Angeles Superior Court, District Attorney's Office, Pubic Defenders' Office and SAPC contracted Community-Based SUD treatment providers, the ADC provides integrated drug treatment to promote long-term recovery and reduce costs through collaborative efforts of multiple judicial and treatment entities. The ADC addresses the needs of substance abusing individuals who are convicted of felonies and misdemeanors placed on formal probation in lieu of incarceration.
  • Assembly Bill 109 (AB 109)
    In October 2011, DPH-SAPC and the Los Angeles County Probation Department (Probation) partnered to implement an assessment process and patient flow in response to the Public Safety Realignment Act or more commonly referred to as Assembly Bill 109 (AB 109). AB 109 called for the release of low-level felons from state prison to County Probation supervision, known as Post-release Supervised Persons (PSPs), and allowed new County offenders charged with offenses that are considered Non-violent, Non-serious, and Non-sexual (N3) to serve time in County jail versus state prison with condition of probation supervision upon release (known as N3 Splits).

    Substance Treatment and Re-entry Transition Community - (START-Community)
    The START-Community program offers eligible inmates the opportunity to complete the final 90 days of their sentence in a community-based SUD residential treatment facility. Individuals participating in START-Community will remain under the supervision of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for the duration of their treatment. Upon completion/release, step down services including outpatient treatment and/or recovery support services are offered on a voluntary basis. For more information, view the START-Community Fact Sheet.


    AB 109 Post-Release Co-Occurring Integrated Care Network (COIN Program)
    DPH-SAPC, Probation and DMH implemented the Co-Occurring Integrated Care Network (COIN) program in 2015. COIN provides integrated SUD and mental health treatment to AB 109 participants who have a chronic SUD and severe and persistent mental illness. Clients are referred by the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Revocation Court (Division 83), for residential treatment.
  • Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) Rapid Diversion Program (RDP)
    The ATI RDP is led by the LA County CEO’s Alternatives to Incarceration office in partnership with SAPC contracted providers, Public Defender, City Attorney, District Attorney, and LA Superior Courts. RDP supports defendants experiencing mental health illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders by diverting them from the justice system into treatment. If the defendant successfully completes treatment, criminal charges will be dismissed.
  • Community Collaborative Courts (CCC)
    Community Collaborative Courts are multi-disciplinary and resource intensive responses to addressing the needs of veterans, persons experiencing chronic homelessness, individuals with a mental illness, victims of sex trafficking, transitional age at-risk youth, and individuals with a SUD.
  • In-Custody to Community Referral Program (ICRP)
    In-Custody to Community Referral Program (ICRP) is a partnership program between DPH-SAPC and the Department of Health Services, Correctional Health Services and Whole Person Care, aimed at initiating connections to SUD treatment services and referral of inmates transitioning from custody into the community. DHS-CHS counselors collaborate with SAPC’s provider network, coordinating the reintegration of inmates and ensuring a warm handoff to the appropriate level of care.
  • Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program
    LEAD is a pre-arrest community-based diversion model led by the Office of Diversion and Reentry, with DPH-SAPC contracted providers, the Sherriff's Department and select community-based organizations. LEAD diverts individuals with repeated low-level drug related offenses at the earliest contact with law enforcement to harm reduction-based case management and social services as an alternative to incarceration. CENS counselors provide substance use disorder screening and linkage to treatment at designated co-locations.
  • Proposition 36/PC1210
    Prop 36: Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of 2000 (PC1210) requires adult criminal defendants convicted of possession, use, transportation for personal use, or under the influence of a controlled substance, be placed in treatment as a condition of probation instead of incarceration.
  • Sentenced Offender Drug Court (SODC)
    SODC was established in 1998 as an intensive SUD treatment approach. This program includes a mandatory in-custody treatment approach for 90-days in county jail followed by community based, court supervised SUD residential and/or outpatient treatment services for convicted, non-violent felony offenders who are at high risk of returning to incarceration.
 
Public Health has made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translation. However, no computerized translation is perfect and is not intended to replace traditional translation methods. If questions arise concerning the accuracy of the information, please refer to the English edition of the website, which is the official version.
Los Angeles County Seal: Enriching lives through effective and caring services