"We are not going to arrest our way out of this": Law Enforcement's Evolving Response to the Fentanyl Crisis with Case Studies from Corrections

Introduction

This article, published recently in the University of St. Thomas Law Journal and co-authored by LEL director Rosemary Nidiry and former policy associate Jessica Brenner, arose from insights shared by LEL members at the University of St. Thomas Law Journal Symposium: Fentanyl – Tragedies and Solutions in October 2024. The symposium brought together experts from various fields, including law enforcement, medical professionals, law professors, affected individuals, and treatment specialists to address the complex challenges of the fentanyl epidemic. 

During the symposium, the LEL members discussed how they are prioritizing health-based approaches to combat the fentanyl crisis. The article builds on those reflections, providing an overview of the various ways that law enforcement leaders are embracing public health responses to address addiction issues, with a special focus on corrections.

We are grateful to LEL member Mark Osler, Professor of Law at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, and the Editors of the University of St. Thomas Law Journal, for organizing the symposium, and the LEL members who participated in the symposium and whose innovations are featured in the article – Sheriff Kalvin Barrett (Dane County, WI), Sheriff Dawanna Witt (Hennepin, MN), and Minnesota’s Commissioner of Corrections Paul Schnell.