Atlanta City Council adopts resolution directing APD to prioritize pre-arrest diversion

The Atlanta City Council on March 2 adopted a substitute resolution asking the Atlanta Police Department to emphasize community-based, pre-arrest diversion for low-level offenses and to report regularly on enforcement trends.

The measure (26‑R‑3234), sponsored by Council member Kelsey Bond and co‑sponsors, directs APD to examine procedures that would make diversion the presumptive response for eligible offenses and seeks transparency about how often diversion is used and who is excluded. Chair Andrea Boone said the item came out of the Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the substitute clarified reporting expectations. "26‑R‑3234 is now adopted," the council president announced after the vote.

Community advocates and service providers strongly backed the resolution during public comment. Christina Kittle, a criminal‑justice organizer with the Legal Defense Fund, told the council the city and county committed $5,000,000 in annual taxpayer funding to the Center for Diversion Services but that the center has been underused: "When opened, it was projected to divert 10,500 people from jail per year. Sadly, the center remains woefully underutilized with only 1,514 diversions made in 2025," she said, urging the council to codify diversion as the expected response.

Moki Macias of People Against Dangerous Decisions (PADD) described community‑led diversion teams that operate alongside Grady Hospital’s diversion center and urged better data sharing and collaboration so diversion can scale. Michael Collins of Playfair ATL, representing a World Cup coalition, said the city should ensure diversion is used during large events to avoid unnecessary jailings.

Council members who spoke in favor emphasized the council’s role in establishing policy expectations and transparency. The final recorded vote on the resolution was 12 yeas, 0 nays.

The resolution directs follow‑up reporting to the council; staff and APD will determine implementation details and provide the transparency measures the resolution requires. The council did not amend APD policy at the meeting—members framed the action as a policy priority and a mechanism to increase oversight and reporting.

What’s next: implementation will depend on APD protocols, training, and operational coordination with community diversion providers; the resolution asks for regular reporting to allow the council to monitor progress.