Report

Sobering Centers offer a unique opportunity to reduce arrests for vulnerable populations by diverting those who may be eligible for arrest to alternative facilities for short-term recovery from acute intoxication. This report is the first in a series detailing our multi-method and multi-site research study examining the utility of sobering centers as an alternative to arrest.

In this report, we discuss the results of two national surveys—one for law enforcement agencies and one for sobering center facilities. Survey findings shed light on how police use sobering centers and the perceived benefits and barriers to their use. In turn, the survey findings also provide important insights into building effective partnerships and enhancing the utility of sobering centers as an alternative to arrest.