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The Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada LIMA Program (Law Enforcement Intervention for Mental Health and Addiction) will host its first in-person graduation for participants of the program who have turned their lives around. The celebration for 21 new grads, will be at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters, 400 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., on Friday, August 6 at 2 p.m. Several keynote speakers will convey positive messages including:  LVMPD Captain Roxanne Burke, Paul Vautrinot, Dr. Sheldon Jacobs, and Dr. Stephanie Woodard.

LIMA is a nine to 12 month pre-booking diversion program, developed to address low-level drug crimes. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers redirect those with low-level drug related charges into the LIMA Program to engage in community-based services. The goal is to get eligible individuals services that will help them, improve public safety and reduce criminal activity. When law enforcement diverts individuals away from the justice system into community-based services for treatment and life-skills training, it improves the likelihood that participants will achieve success. Those referred must have a chemical dependency issue and be willing to engage in treatment services throughout their participation in the LIMA Program.

“The costs of incarceration are rising and the prison system is overwhelmed. The LIMA diversion program offers a more effective and less costly way to address the epidemic of substance abuse,” said District Court Chief Judge Linda Marie Bell. “LIMA diverts people onto a productive path before they begin to revolve through the justice system.”

Participants will be referred to services based on their needs including:

u00b7 Individual and group substance abuse counseling provided

u00b7 Mental health and co-occurring counseling provided

u00b7 Collaborative case management

u00b7 Detoxification services

u00b7 Intensive outpatient and or inpatient treatment

u00b7 Weekly/biweekly meetings with case manager

u00b7 Referrals to sober living, low income housing, and/or temporary/transitional housing and housing   services

u00b7 Assistance with secure vital documents and establishment of positive support system

LIMA is a collaboration between Eighth Judicial District Court and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and is a great example of how using alternative, efficient methods to ensure justice and reduce the potential for crime.

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