FOR ANYTHING IS A DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE THAT CAN LEAD TO LIFELONG PROBLEMS.

BUT FOR HUNDREDS OF CHICAGOANS ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES GETTING ARRESTED MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO THEIR LIVES.

THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S THE THING FINALLY GOT THEM CLEAN.

THANKS TO A CITY WIDE PROGRAM THAT DIVERTS THEM INTO TREATMENT INSTEAD OF JAIL.

THE PROGRAM IS GETTING SOME POSITIVE RESULTS.

AND NOW SOME ADVOCATES ONE EXPANDED.

>> 71 YEAR-OLD GLORIA BRANCHES BEEN COMING TO THRESHOLD FOR TWICE WEEKLY THERAPY SESSIONS SINCE JULY BRANCHES ARE RECOVERING DRUG ADDICT AND SAYS SHE BELIEVES SHE'S TURNED A CORNER.

>> THAT'S MY TOOLS AND DO WHAT SUPPOSED TO DO.

THINGS IS GREAT FOR ME.

>> BRENT WAS ARRESTED LATE LAST YEAR ON DRUG POSSESSION CHARGES WHEN SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE POLICE STATION BRANCHES OFFER THE OPTION TO HAVE HER CHARGES DROPPED.

IF SHE AGREED TO MEET WITH A DRUG COUNSELOR, IT'S THANKS TO THE CITY'S NARCOTICS ARREST DIVERSION PROGRAM, AN INITIATIVE THAT LAUNCHED IN 2018 TO OFFER THOSE ARRESTED FOR LOW-LEVEL DRUG OFFENSES.

A CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR CHARGES DROPPED THAT IF THEY AGREE TO MEET WITH A DRUG COUNSELOR THRESHOLD, A SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT ORGANIZATION HAS COUNSELORS EMBEDDED IN.

25 POLICE STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THE APPROACH IS TO REALLY TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, TO TO ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP TO CARRY HOPE, TO CREATE HOPE AND TO CREATE A PATHWAY.

JEFF GILBERT HELPS ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM AT THRESHOLD AND SAYS HE BELIEVES IT WORKS BECAUSE IT TARGETS PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE SOUGHT HELP.

NOBODY THINKS WHEN THEY WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.

GOING TO JAIL TODAY.

SO I THINK I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BEING A SECOND CHANCE.

BUT THE PROGRAM IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO ABOUT 5% OF ALL DRUG OFFENDERS.

ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME IN 10 YEARS AND ARE NOT DEEMED A THREAT TO THE PUBLIC ARE ELIGIBLE.

THEY HAPPEN TO BE ARRESTED WITH DRUGS AND INSTEAD OF BEING SENT TO JAIL, THEY WILL CONNECT WITH THE COUNCIL.

AURORA IS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CRIME LAB.

HE'S BEEN STUDYING THE EFFICACY OF THE PROGRAM.

SHE SAYS SO FAR HE'S SHOWN POSITIVE RESULTS.

THE PUBLIC VIA BE GREETED US AND BOTH WERE DRUNK.

>> CHARGES AND FOR BIDEN CRIME CHARGES GOES YOU KNOW, IF YOU ME THE PROGRAM SO WE CAN THE SUPER PROMISING SIGNS, RIGHT?

INDICATES THAT THE PROGRAM MIGHT BE REDUCING THE DEMAND FOR DRUGS AND IT'S ALL TO REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME.

IT'S IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY, AT THE SAME TIME, AND SHE SAYS THE DEFENDERS HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE THEIR TREATMENT.

ALL THEY HAVE TO DO TO GET CHARGES DROPPED IS AGREED TO THE INITIAL MEETING IN THE POLICE STATION WITH THE COUNSELOR.

>> BUT ACCORDING TO A CRIME LAB REVIEW, 79% HAVE CHOSEN TO COME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND 50% ARE STILL IN TREATMENT.

30 DAYS LATER, BRANDT SAYS SHE DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY AGREE TO COME TO TREATMENT UPON HER ARREST BUT CHANGED HER MIND AFTER GOING TO JAIL, YOU KNOW, WAY BEING ARRESTED THAT DAY.

>> WAS IT A GOOD THING THAT HAPPENED?

YES, YES.

>> I BELIEVE IN HIGH UP HOW I THAT TO SAY MY LIFE.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT.

>> AURORA SAYS SHE BELIEVES THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE EXPANDED NOW BY INCREASING THE POOL OF ELIGIBLE DRUG OFFENDERS.