05/06/2026
Dear Neighbors,
A message from Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative (PAD) Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative. This is a cool tool:
Greetings everyone,
If you live in Atlanta, you’ve seen it. A neighbor in crisis who needed help, not a jail cell. But how often is care offered instead of punishment?
For the first time, we now have a way to answer that.
We’re excited to share the Atlanta Community Response and Diversion Dashboard. This tool was built with you in mind, especially as many of you have asked for better data to understand what’s really happening in your communities as far as people experiencing poverty, substance use, or mental health challenges.
With this dashboard, you can:
- Compare when PAD or police are dispatched for similar requests
- See the type and frequency of calls in your area and how it compares across the city
- Explore response times, call outcomes, and services provided
- Learn how individuals are connected to long-term care and the impact of PAD’s services
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See if your community members calling PAD or Police
What the data shows is important. Many situations connected to mental health, substance use, and poverty are still going through
911 and leading to arrest, when care and support would be more appropriate.
PAD exists to offer that alternative.
By responding to non-emergency concerns, PAD helps reduce the burden on emergency systems while connecting people to the resources they need.
We encourage you to explore the dashboard, use it in your meetings, and help your communities understand when to call 311 for PAD instead of 911. That decision can make a real difference.
Access the dashboard here: