Online Deflection Assessment Tools for Law Enforcement for Improved Public Safety and Justice Outcomes
Law enforcement agencies are increasingly seeking evidence-based alternatives to costly incarceration and hospitalization outcomes. As part of this shift, many departments are turning to deflection programs to intervene earlier and connect individuals to supportive services.
Law enforcement deflection refers to strategies and programs in which police officers intentionally divert individuals—often those struggling with substance use, mental illness, or housing instability—away from the criminal justice system and toward supportive services.
However, deflection programs may lack easy-to-use tools for assessment, performance tracking, and compliance reporting—especially tools that meet human subjects research standards or facilitate collaborative hand-offs with health providers. Instead, groups are relying on sticky notes, Excel, and Google Docs to manage public safety information. In some cases, there may be no record at all of critical encounters, field notes, or dispositions.
ARETGroup Co-Responder is a human services data collection and management software designed specifically for first response, crisis, law enforcement, and justice providers seeking to expand systematic data capture through compliant, locally owned data systems. Co-Responder offers a complete library of deflection assessment measures and tools tailored for law enforcement agencies implementing or expanding deflection programs—such as LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion), pre-arrest diversion, co-responder models, and community responder strategies. Our platform simplifies data collection, standardizes program evaluation, and drives better decision-making and outcomes.
Key Co-Responder Solution Features:
● Customizable online assessments for intake, risk/needs, and service matching
● Real-time dashboards for tracking deflection outcomes
● Exportable datasets for grant compliance and program evaluation
● Secure, cloud-based platform on privately managed servers with role-based access
● Optional integrations with ARETGroup case management systems
Basic Deflection Assesment Framework
This framework helps standardize early decision-making, enabling law enforcement and service partners to document needs, track referrals, and evaluate program outcomes from the first point of contact.
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Table 1. Key Deflection Assessment Measures |
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Demographics: Collection of individual characteristic data for every deflection contact |
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Risk Factors: Use of observations, field-tested and validated single-item measures and scales to capture risks, needs and protective factors. |
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Services: Collection of referral source information and services provided on-scene, including harm reduction activities. |
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Dispositions: Agency record contact outcomes, including contact disposition, transport details and referral to ongoing services if applicable. |
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Outcomes: Return to cases and forms to record client recidivism, repeat contacts, and behavioral health outcomes. |
Target Market for Solutions
● Municipal and county law enforcement agencies
● Sheriff's offices with jail diversion initiatives
● Behavioral health providers and co-responder partners
● Public health departments and academic research partners
● Grant-funded programs (e.g., BJA, SAMHSA, DOJ)