Roads to Recovery offers support throughout the criminal justice process to lift people out of that cycle and onto a guided and supported path to treatment and stability.
Currently, many people struggling with addiction or mental health end up locked in a cycle of arrests and incarceration, often for low-level crimes like trespassing and drug possession.
While many of these people are connected to care, the system is fragmented and difficult to navigate, placing a burden on those in need.
Roads to Recovery creates pathways away from incarceration and into care and treatment before contact with the criminal justice system and upon release from jail.
Participants receive a menu of care options that are appropriate for their specific needs. Instead of a referral-based system, care is provided immediately (or as soon as possible). After initial stabilization, participants receive long-term care navigation as they navigate toward mental health and addiction recovery.
The primary program goal is to move 200 people struggling with addiction or mental health out of the criminal justice system and into a coordinated intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation pipeline by December 31, 2024.
Outcomes for program participants will be measured in areas related to continued involvement with the criminal justice system, engagement with treatment and services, release from jail, and self-reported wellbeing.
Roads to Recovery is an initiative led by Mayor Mike Johnston’s office. It is one of two strategies under the Safe Denver 2024 citywide goal.