People arrested in Lacey and unincorporated Thurston County could soon have access to mental health and substance abuse treatment through a pilot program.

Officials hope to have the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program running by early June, Prosecutor Jon Tunheim announced Wednesday at a meeting hosted by the Black Alliance of Thurston County. The program would allow people arrested for minor offenses, such as public intoxication, urinating in public and low-level drug offenses, to enter a treatment pipeline with intensive case management instead of being booked into jail.

Thurston County has been working on the program for about three years, but LEAD started coming together last year thanks to the Affordable Care Act, which opened doors to new funding for substance-abuse treatment, Tunheim said. The policy change prompted the formation of the Thurston-Mason Behavioral Health Organization last year.

“This isn’t just something we’re talking about doing. We’re ready to go,” Tunheim said.