The City of Brockton’s “Champion Plan”: The Role of Police Departments in Facilitating Access to Treatment

The City of Brockton (Massachusetts) initiated <i>The Champion Plan</i> (TCP) in February 2016 as part of a community-wide effort to redefine the public safety sector's approach to policing the drug crisis. TCP program model allows those suffering from addiction to walk into a police station and ask for treatment. Early evidence suggests substantial successes for this approach to addressing addiction. Data show 523 individuals walked into the Brockton Police Department 818 times looking for help during the first 24 months of operation. Program staff were able to secure placement beds, on average, within 90 minutes of making contact with clients. Program clients report high levels of satisfaction with the program model, and early data indicate that a substantial number of clients retain engagement with services beyond intake. Findings from this study indicate police-centered treatment-on-demand programs may be viable strategies for getting those suffering from the disease of addiction into treatment.