'We can help them': Lehigh County DA aims to reduce or even wipe criminal charges clean for those who successfully complete new drug abuse program

Jun 21, 2023

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ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Lehigh County officials are making a new push to get people charged with low-level drug offenses on the way to being clean, rather than on the way to jail.

A new program aims to treat those arrested, and are struggling with drug abuse, rather than just throwing them in prison. The district attorney says if a person successfully completes the program, charges could be reduced, or even wiped clean, before the case reaches a courtroom.

Brian Sabo calls himself a "person in long-term recovery."

"When I got clean, almost 12 years ago, I didn't have any options," Sabo said. "None whatsoever."

Sabo is now Regional Director for Steps to Recovery - Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem as well as Silver Pines Treatment Center in Schuylkill County. He speaks firsthand to the importance of a new program called Rapid Assessment Divert to Treatment.

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin explains R.A.D.T. is for someone arrested, who has a drug-abuse problem.

"It's not going to be a 'get out of jail free' card," Martin said. "But you know, if a person goes into treatment, and is successful at getting treatment, we're going to give that person an opportunity to walk away without a criminal record."

The program is a collaborative effort between the DA, Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services, Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol, Lehigh County Jail, Lehigh County Public Defender’s Office, and the Lehigh County Adult Probation Office.

"We've always had a persistent drug problem," Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said. "It's not unique to Lehigh County."

It's part of a larger, already existing program, Mental Illness Substance Abuse - or Team MISA.

"It seems to be successful in two-thirds of the cases that we tried it with," Martin said. "So, we're going to expand it."

The aim is to get those with low-grade substance use disorders into treatment as soon as possible, by evaluating and assessing them before they ever enter the Court of Common Pleas. If successful, they could face reduced, or even no charges.

"Rather than convict them of a crime that's going to last their lifetime," Martin said, "we can get them treatment, get them out of the wheel or the cycle of committing low-grade crimes to sustain their drug habit. We can help them."

"It's really implementing a more compassionate and effective approach to drug offenses," Sabo said. "By offering them a choice, you know, you can go to jail, or you help yourself. I think that's huge."

The program is specifically for those charged with non-violent crimes and with less extensive criminal histories.

"This program is not designed for anyone who's charged with a crime of violence or personal injury, crime, or sexual offense," Martin said. "You know, abuse of credit cards, thefts, low-grade thefts, these are things that are quite common among people who have substance disorders."

"I thought that was really, really great, you know, trying to address the people who may not be taking advantage of society," Matt Bartos, who also once suffered with substance use disorder, said. "They're trying to, you know, support their addiction, which is a little bit different."

Bartos like Sabo, also now works in recovery, serving as executive director of Silver Pines Treatment Center. He says it's crucial to get people help, in order to break the cycle of crime linked with drug abuse.

"People with substance use disorder often do things," Bartos said. "Such as lie, cheat, steal, manipulate, engage in theft, and do a lot of criminal behavior, to support, you know, their addiction and the disease that they have."

Martin says not only will it bring better service to the people, but it will also lighten the load for the overburdened courts.

The DA says his office has funds available from opioid settlement money. He plans to use some of that for those lacking insurance.

Participation in the program is voluntary and does not require any formal finding of guilt.

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