Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program (NAPD)
Last Revised: September 26, 2025
- Issue Areas
- Justice and public safety
Program overview
Reducing drug use: Chicago Police Department’s Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program (NAPD) aims to reduce drug use and its negative impacts by connecting eligible offenders with substance use treatment as opposed to pursuing criminal charges against them.
Diverting non-violent offenders: Individual eligibility for the program is determined immediately after an individual is taken into custody by the arresting officer at the local police department. To qualify for diversion, individuals must have been arrested with fewer than 2 grams of narcotics, methamphetamines, PCP, or ecstasy. Offenders cannot have a violent crime conviction in the last 10 years or a violent charge accompanying the drug arrest. To be eligible, individuals must also provide a legal form of ID and consent to a one-off meeting with a substance use counselor.
Requiring expert assessment: Once individuals are identified by officers for the program, they speak with a substance use counselor in an office housed in the police department with whom they have the opportunity to discuss their drug use and other circumstances. The counselor uses this information to determine in collaboration with the arrestee what kind of treatment and potential other support are most appropriate.
Connecting offenders with appropriate treatment: Diverted offenders are connected with community-based substance-use programs based on their needs. Diverted individuals may choose to be taken to the treatment facility immediately following their release or attend a future appointment. After the conversation with the counselor, the individual is released without charge, leaving the police station. The individual’s engagement with the criminal justice system related to this arrest ends, and there are no legal consequences for opting to attend or not attend treatment.
- Strategies
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Substance use prevention and treatment
- Location
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Chicago (IL)
One study of non-violent offenders in Chicago (IL) suggests that the NADP model is a promising strategy for reducing re-arrest rates.
A 2024 quasi-experimental design study found that NADP reduced the overall re-arrest rate among individuals eligible for diversion by 15%, with a 24% decrease in the probability of being re-arrested for drug charges and 24% decrease for violent charges. The program led to a large increase in diverted individuals' connections to emergency homeless shelters and day shelters. The study found no significant impact of NADP on non-fatal or fatal drug overdoses.
Employing co-located treatment providers: In NADP, the substance use counselor experts who can identify personalized treatment opportunities for the individuals are stationed within the police departments. This allows for warm hand-offs between the NADP in-station substance use professionals and experts at the treatment facility diverted individuals are referred to. This practice is recommended by behavioral health experts and encourages greater patient engagement in treatment. This is important, as substance use therapy will only be effective if patients buy into the program and attend the treatment program they are referred to.
Establishing clear eligibility requirements: NADP has a clear set of requirements and processes used to determine eligibility for diversion. As such, little is left up to the arresting officer's judgement and decisions are not made on a case-by-case basis. This helps ensure that treatment is consistent across all cases eligible for diversion and reduces potential officer bias in decision making.
Reducing risk factors: The treatment facilities that diverted offenders are referred to typically offer wrap-around social services as well as substance use treatment. They help connect individuals to housing, insurance and other social service organizations that may reduce risk factors that would encourage individuals to continue substance use.