NCJ Number
190806
Date Published
2001
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This paper describes the Juvenile Pre-Court Diversion Scheme in Australia's Northern Territory, which was designed to prevent juveniles from entering the formal justice system and facilitate direct community involvement in the management of offending juveniles.
Abstract
In many ways, the scheme provides for a return to traditional methods of policing, in which police interact on a more personal level with the families of problem youth, as they focus on ways to change the problem behavior and prevent further offending. In many cases, victims will have the opportunity to express their feelings to the juvenile about the harm he/she has done to them, so that the juvenile offender will gain an understanding of how his/her behavior has impacted upon others. Although the scheme's results to date are promising, the continued development of suitable programs in rural communities will enhance opportunities for juveniles in these areas to correct antisocial behavior. The behavior of youth in these communities is a complex issue that requires the commitment and coordinated efforts of all government and nongovernment agencies, as well as the communities themselves. The development of juvenile diversion opportunities cannot occur with only the commitment of the police. Accordingly, extensive consultation is continuing with community organizations, indigenous leaders, and private-sector organizations, as well as other Northern Territory government agencies. In keeping with the principles and intent of the scheme, every effort will be made to provide every juvenile offender with a pre-court opportunity to undergo positive behavioral change in lieu of formal court processing. 5 tables