Brief

Police are increasingly looking for effective alternatives for the use of arrest when handling vulnerable populations. Sobering centers, facilities that provide inebriated individuals the time and resources to recover from acute intoxication, are a beneficial alternative to public intoxication arrests. Results from this study lend credible support to the efficacy of sobering centers in reducing police use of arrest, thereby saving valuable time and resources for police and reducing collateral consequences for those arrested solely for public intoxication. Recommendations based on the study findings include the expansion of the use of sobering centers, strategically planning and testing the implementation of sobering centers, documenting their effectiveness, and strengthening collaboration between sobering center service providers and law enforcement.