Pueblo jail hopes to get state grant for drug offender program

A new Colorado grant is looking to give drug offenders a second chance.

It’s called the ‘Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program’. The program would send repeat drug offenders to community-based health and social service programs instead of jail time.
County leaders hope the nearly $500,000 grant will combat addiction.

“The idea would be then that person that would have otherwise been charged with the drug offense would have the ability to participate in a program and avoid future prosecution by hopefully breaking the cycle,” said Pueblo County Commissioner Garrison Ortiz.

Organizers hope to have the program up and running by April.