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extremely important, these programs will also continue to require other federal, state, local, and private funds to fulfill their mission. Principle 2: Collaboration on Harm Reduction with Public Safety Agencies Law enforcement can and should be an essential partner for harm reduction programs. For example, the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, working with the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program (LEAD), has worked with police and sheriffs to redirect low-level offenders to community-based services, rather than incarceration.144 Additional studies of LEAD supported initiatives find that these collaborations reduce criminal justice costs without negatively impacting public safety.145 Critical to the success of pre-arrest diversion and deflection programs involving harm reduction programs is good communication and coordination between law enforcement agencies and program staff in order to identify appropriate cases for diversion and deflection based upon the fact-specific characteristics of each individual and situation. « « « « « « 38 NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY A. Conduct National-level dialogue on harm reduction with law enforcement associations. (Agencies Involved: DOJ/OJP; HHS; ONDCP) National law enforcement associations, as well as representatives of first responder organizations and state and local justice system officials, are critical partners for state and local communities in both increasing knowledge about harm reduction programs and policies and providing practical feedback about how to ensure harm reduction programs are collaborating effectively with law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies also have unique knowledge about drug markets that impact harm reduction work. This two-way dialogue is a critical element to ensure support for the further development of harm reduction initiatives to reduce overdoses and improve access to health services, while also ensuring that law enforcement officers can fulfill their public safety responsibilities. To a significant degree, the success of harm reduction programs depends on good working relationships with state and local law enforcement agencies. All Americans, whatever their background, deserve a fair opportunity to benefit from health services instead of punishment. Stigmatized populations and minority groups have often been denied access to compassionate alternatives to arrest and incarceration.146,147,148 Voices from these communities need to be included in the development of initiatives that impact them. Dialogue at a national level between federal policy makers, law enforcement associations, and harm reduction organizations will help to strengthen positive relationships. These conversations at the national level should be designed to support and spur follow on harm reduction discussions with law enforcement and community groups at the state and local level since that is where so many critical public health and public safety decisions are made. ONDCP, in cooperation with the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), should convene a meeting about harm reduction with national law enforcement associations and advocacy groups and, based on the dialogue, produce a document for public release highlighting key principles to foster effective cooperation between law enforcement and harm reduction organizations that advance public health and public safety goals. B. Develop guidance on pre-arrest diversion and deflection to harm reduction programs. (Agencies Involved: DOJ/COPS, OJP; HHS/ASPE, CDC, HRSA, SAMHSA; ONDCP) State and local police departments and sheriff’s offices are already critical partners with harm reduction organizations in many parts of the country. Officers often encounter individuals with SUD in their daily work, or in response to calls for assistance. When no arrest is made, officers are increasingly facilitating pre-arrest diversion or deflection into available programs when appropriate and without negatively impacting public safety. In order to produce the best outcome, referrals to service providers to the maximum extent possible should include a discussion between the individual and a clinician about what type of care is the best fit. The individual should have the opportunity to choose a harm reduction program. Often, the success of a harm reduction program in a community is directly related to the existing community partnerships, including those with local law enforcement officials. To foster this effort, law enforcement officers can help agencies identify best practices and appropriate criteria, in collaboration with public health and public safety agencies including DOJ and HHS, for referrals based upon a fact-specific  evaluation of the characteristics of the individual and situation without negatively impacting public safety. C. Support use of specialized case management for PWUD. (Agencies Involved: DOJ/OJP; HHS/CDC, HRSA, SAMHSA; ONDCP) Recognized by SAMHSA as one of the eight principles of community-based behavioral health services for justice-involved individuals,149 specialized case management (SCM) incorporates treatment, social services, and social supports that address prior and current involvement with the criminal justice system and reduce the likelihood of recidivism, which enhances public safety. SCM promotes collaboration in the 

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