LEAD program a good solution to issues

RE: “PROGRAM aims to seek treatment over jail time,” published July 5

Ask any Burqueño and they will tell you our city faces a major issue with crime and a troubled police department. As a concerned community member and a social work student, I have been skeptical about Major (Tim) Keller’s community policing strategy — that is a whole separate issue! — but when I read (that) Bernalillo County will be launching a Law Enforcement Assisted Division (LEAD) program, I nearly jumped out of my seat. Finally, a solution that attempts to address the root causes of crime instead of throwing more — black and brown — people in jail!

Many people who read this may be thinking: Why would someone advocate for “criminals?” Yeah, I know, I probably would have thought the same thing myself several years ago, but the truth is, often times, there are underlying issues that lead someone to commit a crime. For instance, people who are struggling with drug abuse and addiction have the potential to resort to drastic measures in order to have their needs met. Or the same can be true for someone who has an untreated mental illness and is experiencing homelessness. Instead of treating these issues as criminal — where the only solution is incarceration — we should be addressing them as complex unmet needs that require complex solutions.

And for my fellow skeptics out there who think this program will serve as a “get out of jail free card,” rest assured (that) people will still be punished if they do not follow the guidelines of the program. I promise you, though, this type of innovative approach will save us taxpayer money in the long run because it costs more to incarcerate repeat offenders than it does to help them. LISA BARRIOS Albuquerque