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LEAD Program’s Data Under Scrutiny | Seattle News
A decade-old program called LEAD, designed to divert low-level drug offenders from jail into community services, is under fire after researchers expose a major flaw in its flagship statistic—a claimed 58% arrest reduction. Critics argue the data was misinterpreted and doesn’t show real improvements in homelessness, employment, or recidivism, with one study finding only a handful of participants landed jobs. While LEAD’s founders and the University of Washington admit minor wording issues, they defend the program’s core impact on reducing arrests. Now, advocates are demanding independent…
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