Delco Joins Attorney General's Addiction Treatment Initiative

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Delaware County is joining Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro in launching a new initiative that supports those seeking addiction treatment without the threat of arrest.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer and Shapiro Tuesday announced the kick-off of the Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative (LETI) in Delaware County.

LETI is a program that allows individuals seeking treatment for addiction to use local law enforcement as a resource to contact participating treatment partners without the threat of arrest.

To date, eight counties have initiated a LETI program; Delaware County will be the largest county in the commonwealth to launch this initiative.

Under LETI, individuals can contact a member of law enforcement at any time to ask for a referral or to be connected to treatment with no threat of arrest or prosecution.

This policy also allows law enforcement officers to connect individuals to treatment at their discretion.

Through the efforts of the Delaware County Department of Human Services, the County has received grant funding to ensure that law enforcement officers have the resources they need to obtain "fast track" assistance for individuals who seek their help through this program.

"As Pennsylvania recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot forget the ongoing opioid epidemic that takes the lives of twelve Pennsylvanians every day," Shapiro said. "Connecting individuals to the treatment they need will save lives and make our communities safer, and I commend Berks County District Attorney John Adams and Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer for their commitment to tackling this crisis that impacts every community in our Commonwealth."

Shapiro said under LETI partnering Delaware County law enforcement agencies will open their station doors to those suffering from addiction; help identify treatment for those who seek it; assist with ensuring that people have transportation to the facilities; and maintain relationships with local treatment providers to understand availability of services and collect data to study outcomes.

"LETI is a true diversion program for non-violent individuals who come into contact with the criminal justice system on account of drug dependency," Stollsteimer said. "Together with our Drug Treatment Court and the Second Chance Court, this is another tool in our toolbox to get people help that works. As we have worked on the development and implementation of this program, we have been assisted enormously by the staff in the Attorney General’s office, particularly Agent Janene Holter, the coordinator of the LETI program, and we are extraordinarily grateful for that assistance."