Madison Area Recovery Initiative (MARI)

The Madison Police Department actively seeks opportunities to divert and deflect individuals from the justice system. The Madison Area Recovery Initiative, also known as MARI, has pre-arrest diversion and multidisciplinary community outreach components.

MARI Diversion

Diversion occurs when police refer individuals to a program or services in lieu of an arrest. Pre-arrest or pre-charge diversion seeks to connect individuals with community-based help, while avoiding an arrest record.
  • MARI’s Pre-arrest Diversion Program offer individuals treatment instead of further criminal justice system involvement. Individuals will receive a citation and a referral to our Tellurian clinical assessor at the time of police contact. Basic eligibility for pre-arrest diversion includes:
    • The individual has residential ties to Dane County.
    • The individual is at least 17 years of age.
    • The incident and circumstances investigated do not involve domestic abuse, sex offenses, or acts or threats of violence towards others.
    • The individual is actively using illicit drugs (not alcohol), misusing prescription medications, or the underlying behavior has to do with substance use, and
    • Probable cause is developed to cite or arrest the individual for one or more of the following eligible offenses:
      • Possession of a controlled substance, Wis. Stat. 961.41(3g) subsections are eligible.
      • Possession of drug paraphernalia, Wis. Stat. 961.573.
      • Prostitution, Wis. Stat. 944.30.
      • Non-traffic City Ordinance Violation(s).
  • If the individual participates in the treatment program, no charges are referred for prosecution, and any established court dates are cancelled.
  • If you or somebody you know has been referred to MARI’s pre-arrest diversion program, and you have questions, please contact us at MARI@cityofmadison.com or 608-416-9478.

MARI Deflection

Deflection is community-based and does not involve the criminal justice system, beyond an individual’s interaction with a police officer in a community outreach role. Police deflection programs aim to reduce crime by connecting people with mental health or substance use struggles to treatment and recovery resources.

  • The MARI Resource Team is a police officer, paired with a Safe Communities Certified Peer Support Specialist. Together, we follow-up with individuals who have experienced a recent overdose or substance-use-related call for service.
  • The MARI Resource Team distributes Naloxone and other harm reduction supplies and offers referrals and personal connections to an array of harm reduction and treatment services.
  • In addition to outreach to specific individuals experiencing substance use concerns, the MARI Resource Team appears at a variety of table outreach events around Madison. With table outreach, we allow people to engage with our officers or peer specialists on their own terms.
  • Currently the MARI Resource Team does table outreach on various days and times, at the following locations:
    • Dane County Job Center (1819 Aberg Ave)
    • Luke House (310 S Ingersoll St)
    • Madison Public Library - Central (201 W Mifflin St)
    • Men’s Emergency Drop-in Shelter (2002 Zeier Rd)
    • Safe Haven (4006 Nakoosa Trl)
    • The Salvation Army Family Shelter (4502 Milwaukee St)
  • Finally, for individuals who wish to self-refer into treatment services, MPD’s MARI Team can coordinate clinical assessment and assist with getting individuals connected with appropriate treatment options.
  • If you or somebody you know has would benefit from an outreach visit or phone call from the MARI Resource Team, please contact us at MARI@cityofmadison.com or 608-416-9478.

Who is the MARI Team?

  • The Madison Area Recovery Initiative partners with: Safe Communities, Tellurian, Dane County Department of Human Services, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, the Madison Fire Department, and the US Bureau of Justice Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP).
  • Our MARI Brochure includes a list of trusted community resources

The MPD MARI team:

Sergeant Jared Prado

Program Assistant Robert Burns

Officer Tanner Sandmire

MARI Group photo

Reports