ATLANTA – Last week, the City of Atlanta Finance/Executive Committee (FEC) did not hold a highly anticipated vote on a contract for The Policing Alternatives and Diversion (PAD) Initiative, a nonprofit organization working to reduce the arrest and imprisonment of people experiencing extreme poverty, substance use disorder, and mental health concerns. A special procurement for pre-arrest diversion services was recently opened by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office, preventing the committee from moving forward with the PAD contract decision.
For months, The PAD Initiative has been waiting for a funding decision from Atlanta City Council. Introducing a special procurement, which is a private, invite-only proposal process managed by the Mayor’s Office, gives rise to many questions about the fate of the PAD Initiative contract.
“After last month’s decision by the City Council to temporarily fund PAD on a monthly basis until full funding could be decided in November, we were hopeful that council members would finally make good on the contract approval,” said Andrea Young, executive director. “Regardless of the special procurement outcome, Atlanta City Council has an obligation to honor the PAD contract, which was awarded through an official, public RFP process. The special procurement should neither replace nor hinder PAD’s contract as awarded. We urge Atlanta City Council to see the contract through.”
With PAD’s funding currently approved through the end of the year, the program’s services could end on December 31, creating an uncertain future for pre-arrest diversion in Atlanta. In the ACLU of Georgia’s 2022 jail report, “There are Better Solutions,” data shows that these services could potentially provide rehabilitative resources to more than 3,000 people and divert them from incarceration in the overcrowded Fulton County Jail.
