Philadelphia’s Diversion Program Shows Promise

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced strong results from the city’s Accelerated Misdemeanor Program (AMP), highlighting its effectiveness in preventing convictions and lowering rates of repeat offenses.

What is the Accelerated Misdemeanor Program?

First implemented in 2010, AMP is a two-tiered diversion program designed for individuals facing low-level misdemeanor charges. These charges include offenses such as trespassing, theft, unlawful liquor sales, sex work, and drug offenses. Participants are required to fulfill specific requirements, like completing community service or participating in treatment programs, to avoid a criminal conviction.

High Completion and Low Re-arrest Rates

Data shared with NBC10 reveals a remarkably high completion rate for the program. “One of the great things about AMP is the completion rate is close to 100%. It’s 97 to 98%,” stated District Attorney Krasner. Over the past three years, 1,784 individuals have successfully completed AMP, representing approximately 97% of participants. Only 59 people, or roughly 3%, did not complete the program.

Furthermore, re-arrest rates among program graduates remain low. Officials report that between 5% and 9% of those who completed AMP were re-arrested within one year of completion. “It’s only about 5-9% who have another arrest,” Krasner noted, “Compared to all kinds of other programs, compared to convictions, in Philadelphia that is a very, very positive outcome.”

Program Impact on Drug-Related Cases

According to Alexei Taylor, a senior data analyst with the District Attorney’s Office, AMP has significantly impacted the handling of low-level drug offenses. “Over the last three years, AMP has been handling nearly 50% of these drug-related, low-level misdemeanors,” Taylor said.

Challenges and Future Considerations

While the data is encouraging, Krasner acknowledged limitations, particularly due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized the need for further analysis of long-term outcomes. “And those are good questions and those are questions that we are going to want to answer as we move forward,” he said.

The report also highlighted disparities in program participation and success rates among individuals experiencing homelessness. Approximately 46% of unhoused individuals were rejected from the program, compared to 27% of those with housing. Only 16% of unhoused participants successfully completed the program. Krasner stated, “I also see that we have to do better by unhoused people.” He emphasized the importance of providing basic needs to reduce crime, noting that this principle applies globally.