Happy MacGyver Day! One of LEAP’s founders, Stephen Downing, was part of the MacGyver journey. He was a producer and adviser to the show. Stephen explains more about this seminal TV show in his latest post: stephendowning.substack.com/p/forty-year...

A lot of talk at the UN recently, and here’s some news you may have missed: ‘US war on “narco-terrorists” violates the right to life, warn UN experts after deadly vessel strike’ www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

‘Where did the money go? Baltimore pledges transparency in possible $500M opioid settlement.’ www.baltimoresun.com/2025/09/20/b...

We’re proud to announce the launch of an innovative project! A first-of-its-kind interactive map which details the progress of community responders. Community responder programs are taking place across the U.S. and changing law enforcement as we know it: bit.ly/LEAP-CRP

Interesting look at the building of prisons and how new super-sized penitentiaries are popping up. The penal system affects us all. It’s getting increasingly easier to go into prison, and ever harder to fully exit the system. boltsmag.org/arkansas-pri... @laurengill.bsky.social

‘Los Angeles County Jails on Track to Set a Tragic New Record’ Twenty-six people have died in LA County jails in 2025, the second-most deaths to date of any year on record. 103 have died since the start of 2023 www.vera.org/news/los-ang...

“I saw firsthand how fragile public trust can be, and how essential it is for effective crime prevention and deterrence. When law enforcement is perceived as an illegitimate or oppositional force, the public turns away.” - Major Franklin (Ret.), LEAP Speaker. www.baltimoresun.com/2025/09/14/t...

A great many organizations & individuals are extremely concerned about the impact of, what amounts to, criminalization of homelessness. We need longterm solutions, and let’s remember, homelessness can affect us all, let’s not pretend there’s an immunity. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Listen to our Executive Director @dianemgoldstein.bsky.social as she guests on Matenaer On Air to talk about an array of things, such as cashless bail and the benefits of such a system, not to mention how this issue has become a ‘political hot potato’. Listen via: civicmedia.us/shows/matena...

‘Police Departments Lower Education Standards Due to Staff Shortages’ “From Dallas to New York, departments are easing or ending college degree expectations hoping to broaden their recruitment pool.” www.governing.com/workforce/po...

Big movement, 177 organizations sign an open letter to the Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO), calling for continued practice around harm reduction and health-based approaches. Read in full: bit.ly/45O9oPw

‘Cities Move Away From Strategies That Make Drug Use Safer’ “San Francisco, Philadelphia and others are retreating from “harm reduction” strategies that have helped reduce deaths…” www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/h...

“People who use alcohol have consumer rights. They are not subject to institutionalized stigma and discrimination, and can openly seek evidence-based health education and support…” ‘Overdoses Should Be Termed “Prohibition-Related Deaths”’ filtermag.org/overdose-pro... @filtermag.bsky.social

A stark reminder that this issue affects every level of society. ‘California district attorney resigns after ex-client says he sold him meth for years’ www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...

‘Fear-mongering about immigrants undermines police and makes us all less safe’ “Most people in law enforcement believe deeply in protecting their communities. And that means every part of their communities.” - Diane Goldstein, LEAP Executive Director. www.ocregister.com/2025/08/04/f...

‘Unmarked Cars and Masked Agents Create Bigger Risks in D.C., Advocates Say’ We’re quoted in this article which highlights the risk to communities that we’re currently witnessing. www.notus.org/trump-white-...

‘Did Oregon’s Drug Decriminalization Increase Crime or Overdoses?’ “Analysts and commentators should avoid automatically blaming decriminalization when crime or overdoses increase and instead examine the broader context carefully” www.cato.org/blog/did-ore...

Richard Lee -A Celebration of Life and Legacy. So many organizations and people will honor Richard, and to remember his life and impact. Click the link for full details and to share memories. oaksterdam.com/richard-lee-...

Big movement in Alaska to change approach and regulate: ‘Ballot initiative to decriminalize psychedelics in Alaska cleared for signature-gathering’ www.adn.com/politics/202... @alaskabeacon.com

‘A historic opportunity: Why the global liberation of the coca leaf matters on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples’ idpc.net/blog/2025/08...

Big news. Despite the rhetoric and media attention, decriminalization in Oregon did not lead to increased crime or overdose. New research published suggests that no association was found and that social and health policies need addressing. Read more: bit.ly/4oyGSZj

This is very important research about Measure 110 which decriminalized drug possession in Oregon… Despite the enforced rhetoric that crime and overdose rates went up, this research found no such association. www.pdx.edu/news/psu-res...

“The city’s Reimagining Public Safety Committee and the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) group started developing the alternative 911 program…” evanstonroundtable.com/2025/08/01/a...

We give our gratitude to retired LAPD Deputy Chief, Stephen Downing, as he highlights our work in LEAP, as well as the tireless work of Executive Director Diane Goldstein. bit.ly/4llJtTz

Reuters has produced this graphic article to convey the terrible conditions incarcerated people are enduring. Society is only as good as the justice system which serves us all. www.reuters.com/graphics/USA...

We need to talk about this… ‘Fear-mongering about immigrates undermines police and makes us all less safe’ - latest op-ed from LEAP Executive Director Diane Goldstein. @dianemgoldstein.bsky.social www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/08/04/f...

“Police are not the best tool for addressing housing insecurity, addiction, or untreated mental illness,” - LEAP’s Executive Director, Diane Goldstein, expresses concern over new Executive Orders which will further marginalize vulnerable communities. filtermag.org/trumps-execu...

‘Massachusetts Psychiatric Society Endorses Bill To Decriminalize Psilocybin Possession’ “We are encouraged by the growing body of rigorous research exploring the use of psychedelics…” www.marijuanamoment.net/massachusett...

‘Oregon spent funds meant for addiction services on prosecutors and police gadgets’ “As the state abandons decriminalization, treatment grants are going to sheriffs and district attorneys: ‘that might be two or three case managers’” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

‘New data: Over 100 elementary-aged children arrested in U.S. schools’ "My heart is broken when I know that those kinds of circumstances take place, period." www.cbsnews.com/news/school-...

Massachusetts reported to have collected over $8Billion in taxation on adult sales since legalization. It just makes sense, right? www.marijuanamoment.net/massachusett...

“Former police lieutenant Diane Goldstein, now director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, went further, calling the use of masks a “security excuse” that ends up creating more risks for the agents themselves.” www.mundodeportivo.com/us/en/202507...

[Listen] - A discussion around community responders. Cincinnati police union files complaint against community responders, but what’s the full story? LEAP member, Tom Thompson, a retired police chief, speaks about the issues on Cincinnati Edition. www.wvxu.org/show/cincinn...

Very positive news: ‘Albuquerque Community Safety opens second location on the westside’ “…with the goal of decreasing field response time. 40% of calls for service are on the west side,” www.msn.com/en-us/news/u...

“I’ve buried more people than I can count. That includes my best friend, who died of a fentanyl overdose after years of doing everything “right.”” Impactful insights: ‘Harm reduction saved my life. So why isn’t Arizona doing more of it?’ azmirror.com/2025/06/25/h...

“Most officers spend hours weekly − sometimes daily − responding to calls that could be more appropriately handled by someone else.” Are there alternatives to law enforcement? Read in full: bit.ly/4o9Ujz1 By LEAP’s Chief Tom Thompson (Ret.)

“my 30 years of law enforcement experience, I’ve learned that public safety is a complex challenge that requires an all-hands-on-deck approach.” Discussing alternative response programs and community responders: www.cincinnati.com/story/opinio... Chief Tom Thompson (Ret.), member of LEAP

‘Historic Change is Underway for Rethinking Global Drug Policy’ passblue.com/2025/06/26/h... by @kasiams.bsky.social

‘Boston City Council Supports End to Debt-Based Driving Restrictions’ LEAP has worked alongside many others in helping this initiative transition. This will help working families and lower the barriers to earning. www.nclc.org/boston-city-...

‘TAKE OFF THE MASK, ICE’ “The federal government should prohibit the wearing of masks by ICE agents and require them to properly identify themselves.” LEAP member Brandon del Pozo on an issue that’s troubled so many in law enforcement & communities: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

On behalf of the whole LEAP team, have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

“Panel moderator @dianemgoldstein.bsky.social, Executive Director of Law Enforcement for Action Partnership (LEAP), opened the discussion by commending the psychedelic advocacy community in Texas for its ability to foster bipartisan action” www.lucid.news/ps2025-polic... @jackgorsline.bsky.social

Recently, the former Executive Director of LEAP, Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), took part in an evidence hearing to discuss ‘Sanctuary Cities’. In recent weeks we’ve seen how embedded this big conversation is in our communities. Please have a watch: youtu.be/c5PAxx5-VYs

‘Evidence that cannot be contained: The World Drug Report 2025 reveals the ongoing failure of the drug control regime’ A vital briefing thanks to @idpc.net on the latest global evidence around drug controls. idpc.net/blog/2025/06...

“A new study found that when people lose health insurance, crime rates go up. Bolts spoke to one of the authors about the implications, at a time of a nationwide drop-off in Medicaid.” boltsmag.org/medicaid-cov... By @burness.bsky.social

As cities come under fire for "sanctuary" policies, watch former LEAP Executive Director Neill Franklin's recent congressional testimony, where he explained how immigration enforcement by state and local police can undermine public safety. youtu.be/c5PAxx5-VYs

‘The Funding Crisis of Harm Reduction’ With funding being cut, what are the realities and consequences? drogriporter.hu/en/the-fundi...

“We must take a hard look at how lawlessness by those sworn to uphold the law has helped set the stage for disorder.” LEAP’s @dianemgoldstein.bsky.social gives a 21 year service record perspective on ICE. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb... for @msnbc.com

As a retired police lieutenant, I’m alarmed at the lawlessness we’re seeing from ICE’ LEAP’s ED @dianemgoldstein.bsky.social for @msnbc.com on an issue that we cannot afford to ignore: “The message is clear: The law doesn’t apply to us, and we don’t answer to you” www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...

Please meet Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer, a valued member of LEAP. This is an interview with Alyshia marking the end of Women’s History Month: www.wemu.org/show/washten...