GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Accountability, it’s the first step for low-level offenders in the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program (LEAD) in Gaston County.
"People get clean when they decide themselves, they’re going to do it," Gaston County District Attorney Travis Page told WCNC Charlotte.
Many low-level offenders go in and out of the system. "They’re serving a life sentence 30 days at a time," Page said.
The LEAD program was put in place to stop that vicious cycle.
The program offers low-level offenders suffering from problematic substance use, mental illness, and homelessness two options, receive assistance and treatment or go to jail.
"There has been a pleasant surprise," Page said. "People will do anything to get out of jail or avoid jail."
Page said he has been encouraged by the number of people willing to take a chance to change their lives.
Adrien Sanders is the project coordinator with LEAD. She said she’s seen firsthand the impact of the program.
"We have gotten a lot of hugs, which is nice," Sanders said. "People are so grateful to the officers for making those referrals and they were in tears."
LEAD currently has about 15 participants in the program, with 15 different stories, but they all share one trait -- perseverance.
"We have some very determined participants and I'm really proud to see what they’ve done," Sanders said. "People stay in tents and in the cold and in the rain, but they’re are getting themselves to treatment every single day,"
Sanders said they’re hoping to continue to remove barriers, giving folks the power to rewrite their story.
Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.