Atlanta's 311 call center to start handling certain calls 911 used to handle
The partnership between the 911 and 311 call centers are focusing on public indecency calls right now. These are the first types of calls Atlanta 911 operators will immediately send to 311.
From there, supportive services will obtain additional information about the situation and submit a PAD community response referral.
Atlanta officials ask residents to dial 311 for quality-of-life issues
After a chance encounter with a homeless mother and child at an Atlanta shopping center, Ruby-Beth Buitekant wanted to help. She dialed ATL 311.
"I knew it was an alternative to calling the police," said Buitekant. "I didn't feel like calling police on a neighbor who needed some help."
Atlanta police have option to making arrests
Police in Atlanta have an option not to arrest for certain low-level offenses. That message is being delivered to officers in every quadrant of the city.
Fox5: Atlanta program meant to respond to minor offenses growing
An initiative that offers an alternative to calling the police for minor offenses is growing. It's called Atlanta Pre-Arrest Diversion Services or Atlanta PAD. The group helps keep vulnerable individuals out of the criminal justice system.