Arrest Diversion

Evaluating pre-arrest diversion programs for substance use disorder

Overview

Pre-arrest diversion programs offer individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) the opportunity to enter treatment instead of facing criminal charges. This project combines program evaluation and mathematical modeling to study programs such as Madison's Addiction Recovery Initiative (MARI) and the Community Assisted Response and Engagement System (CARES). Findings demonstrate significant reductions in arrest recidivism, incarceration, and overdose deaths among participants. Complementary modeling work evaluates system-level treatment and diversion policies, and optimization models identify effective locations for prescription drug collection infrastructure.

Publications

Journal Papers

On locating prescription drug collection boxes
M.C. Rico, V.M. White, L.A. Albert
Optimization and Engineering, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11081-026-10080-x
Evaluating diversion and treatment policies for opioid use disorder
V.M. White, L.A. Albert
IISE Transactions in Healthcare Systems Engineering, 15(3), 241–268, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1080/24725579.2025.2523273
Law Enforcement-Led, Pre-Arrest Diversion-to-Treatment May Reduce Crime Recidivism, Incarceration, and Overdose Deaths: Program Evaluation Outcomes
J.E. Nyland, A. Zhang, J.A. Balles, T.H. Nguyen, V.M. White, L.A. Albert, M.F. Henningfield, and A.E. Zgierska.
Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, vol. 165, 209458, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2024.209458
The relationship between police contacts for drug use-related crime and future arrests, incarceration, and overdoses: a retrospective observational study highlighting the need to break the vicious cycle
A. Zhang, J.A. Balles, J.E. Nyland, T.H. Nguyen, V.M. White, and A.E. Zgierska
Harm Reduction Journal, vol. 19, no. 1, p. 67, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-022-00652-2
Impact of a community-policing initiative promoting substance use disorder treatment over criminal charges on arrest recidivism
V.M. White, S.A. Avendano, L.A. Albert, A.E. Zgierska, C.J. Balles, et al.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, vol. 227, p. 108915, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108915
Pre-arrest diversion to addiction treatment by law enforcement: protocol for the community-level policing initiative to reduce addiction-related harm, including crime
A.E. Zgierska, V.M. White, J. Balles, C. Nelson, J. Freedman, T.H. Nguyen, et al.
Health & Justice, vol. 9, pp. 1–9, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-021-00134-w

Government Reports

Advancing Evidence-Based Practices in Criminal Justice with Implementation Science
C.D. Hudgins, V.M. White, E. Martin
(In Peer Review)

In the News

Radio interview with WORT 89.9FM

WORT 89.9FM Madison · New study reveals efficacy of Madison's Addiction Recovery Initiative

The Capital Times

The Capital Times · Madison addiction recovery program reduces six-month recidivism odds

College of Engineering News

CoE UW-Madison · Study shows effectiveness of substance-use diversion program

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering News

FAMU-FSU CoE · Mathematical Models Offer Data-Driven Solutions to Opioid Crisis

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