Months of unpaid work, a secret procurement process, “philosophical differences” and a brief suspension of services ended Jan. 6 when Atlanta executed a two-year, $5 million contract for community response agency the Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative, or PAD.
It’s been a lengthy, troubled process for the long-standing diversion program due to multiple contract issues with existing and future contracts. But with the official contract execution, the organization can commit to at least six more years of its work.
“We are committed for the long haul, and we are just getting started,” PAD Deputy Director Denise White said. “Doing this work allows us to transform a system of punishment into one of restoration.”
PAD began its work in 2013, with a focus on criminal justice reform. Over the years, it took on a new approach to public safety through “pre-arrest diversion.” The program aims to intervene before community members are arrested for extreme needs related to substance use, mental health and extreme poverty.
The diversion services work a few ways: If somebody in the community is visibly in distress, people can call ATL 311 instead of 911 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. The hotline will directly connect to PAD, and members from the Community Response team will respond to the request.
From there the community response team will assess if the person needs a warm meal, clean clothes, or a ride to a nearby shelter. The organization also helps with long-term legal and housing assistance.
If the Atlanta Police Department does respond to a person in need, the officer can opt to refer them to PAD instead of being booked into jail. From there, the community response team at PAD will take over the case and address the person’s basic needs.
PAD’s small team responded to over 1,800 calls in 2024, and people overwhelmingly said they would use the service again. But despite outward progress, the organization faced several barriers.
The city of Atlanta has contracted PAD’s services since 2017. In 2024, PAD Atlanta won the contract yet again after a citywide open procurement process for community response services. But Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens requested a delay, citing accounting issues.
From there, PAD worked through September on a month-to-month basis– without getting paid. The organization provided services to the city without getting paid in July and August until the members received an invoice.
PAD got its retroactive pay, but the fate of the contract was unclear as long as the mayor’s office kept up delays over finances and now “philosophical differences.” In fall 2024, PAD learned the city had kicked off a “special procurement process” to bring on a new organization.
The move proved immediately controversial since PAD had already been awarded the contract. Community uproar followed and the city withdrew its request without any applicants.
On Nov. 18,. Atlanta City Council approved the city’s $5 million two-year contract with PAD with two two-year contract renewals. But the contract wasn’t executed, and PAD Atlanta had to suspend its services when the existing contract ended on Dec. 31, 2024.
The lapse of services only lasted a matter of days until the city of Atlanta executed the contract on Jan. 6, putting the contract woes to an end and securing PAD’s future with the city.
In a press release, PAD said the “nationally recognized partnership is positioned to grow over the course of the next six years.” With the contract finally settled, the agency aims to hire new staff to expand its hours, conduct a public awareness campaign to encourage diversion calls and create a data-driven public dashboard.
“I am pleased that this contract is continuing our important work for our City and some of our most marginalized residents is finally in place and executed,” PAD Board Chair Clinton Devaux said. “We are glad to get back to work.”
I’m wanting more details on the mayor’s questions about “accounting issues.” The report here mentions several barriers to the new contract. What are the “philosophical issues” between the non-profit and city hall? There seems to be much more here that begs a better explanation. Can we get more depth?
Dickens and Fulton County were upset that PAD had previously criticized the leasing of Atlanta Jail cells to Fulton and were trying to retaliate.
I’m disappointed in the city’s approach to PAD. They have budgeted $90M for cop city and $2.5M a year for PAD. It seems to me an ounce of prevention could save millions of dollars for a cure.