Jun 2023

Video about the Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program

Ashna Arora Jordan Bellquist Daniel Avila Jacob Miller

This video provides an overview of the Crime Lab’s evaluation of the Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program, a program implemented by the community behavioral health provider Thresholds.

In this program, individuals eligible for diversion are connected with a substance use counselor, are released without criminal charges, and face no threat of future prosecution related to the arrest.

Early findings of the study show that the program successfully engages participants in treatment and significantly reduces re-arrest rates, demonstrating that a sanction-free response to the opioid crisis can work at scale to help make cities safer and healthier.

NADP is a partnership between the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and Thresholds.

Related Resources
Agent-Based Model of Combined Community- and Jail-Based Take-Home Naloxone Distribution
Academic Paper

Agent-Based Model of Combined Community- and Jail-Based Take-Home Naloxone Distribution

Dec 2024

This paper outlines the impact and cost-effectiveness of naloxone distribution, particularly for people facing criminal justice involvement.

Empirical Analysis of Prediction Mistakes in New York City Pretrial Data
Academic Paper

Empirical Analysis of Prediction Mistakes in New York City Pretrial Data

Feb 2024
Policing Substance Use: Chicago’s Treatment Program for Narcotics Arrests – Working Paper
Academic Paper

Policing Substance Use: Chicago’s Treatment Program for Narcotics Arrests – Working Paper

Oct 2023

This working paper sheds light on the effectiveness of diversion programs by showcasing Chicago’s drug diversion program success in reducing drug-related arrests.

Brookings Institution Commentary: Making the invisible epidemic visible
Brief

Brookings Institution Commentary: Making the invisible epidemic visible

Aug 2023

Using new data from a large urban trauma center in Chicago, we document substantial under-reporting of domestic violence at the time of receiving medical care.

Latest Updates

University of Chicago Economist Jens Ludwig Testifies on Violence Reduction Research Before Illinois House Committee
Press Release
UChicago Crime Lab
Apr 2026

University of Chicago Economist Jens Ludwig Testifies on Violence Reduction Research Before Illinois House Committee

The Illinois House Gun Violence Prevention Committee will today hear testimony from Dr. Jens Ludwig, who will detail violence reduction strategies from his book, “Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence.”

The Alumni Dispatch – This Didn’t Happen Overnight: Three CVILA Alumni Reflect on Chicago’s Progress
Q&A
UChicago Crime Lab
Apr 2026

The Alumni Dispatch – This Didn’t Happen Overnight: Three CVILA Alumni Reflect on Chicago’s Progress

Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy (CVILA) Program Manager Heather Bland sat down with Chicago alumni Pamela Montgomery-Bosley, Edwin Galletti, and Guillermo Gutierrez to explore how their leadership, lived experience, and daily work are reshaping public safety and advancing community violence intervention across Chicago.

How to get safer streets with tighter police budgets
Op-Ed
New York Daily News
Mar 2026

How to get safer streets with tighter police budgets

Former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton and Policing Leadership Academy Executive Director Ken Corey co-authored an op-ed about the importance of police leadership and ensuring police commanders are equipped with the tools to run modern, data-driven organizations.