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New court in Kensington will serve as a pipeline to drug treatment, Mayor Parker says

Read full report at PhillyVoice.com

People cited for substance use in the Philly neighborhood will be offered the opportunity to enter a diversionary program that day.

Some people arrested for low-level drug crimes in Kensington now may be eligible for expedited court hearings and immediate treatment referrals.

The new Kensington Neighborhood Wellness Court and Wellness Support Center aims to help the 800 people with substance use disorders living on the streets of Kensington — a vast open air drug market — while improving the quality of life for neighborhood residents, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said Tuesday at a press conference.

Parker signed an executive order Tuesday that allows police to issue summary citations – the least serious criminal charge – to people using drugs on the streets of Kensington. Anyone who is cited then will receive a medical and mental health assessment, be screened for eligibility to enter a diversion program and see a judge on the same day. Any outstanding bench warrants will be assessed and possibly revoked, said Adam Geer, the city’s chief public safety officer.

This process will happen at the new Wellness Support Center at 265 E. Lehigh Ave. and at the Kensington Neighborhood Wellness Court at 3901 Whitaker Ave. For now, it will only be open on Wednesdays as part of a pilot program.

Read full report at PhillyVoice.com

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