NCJ Number
49675
Date Published
1978
Length
133 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF A CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE CONFERENCE WAS COSPONSORED BY THE MINISTRY OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND WAS ATTENDED BY DIVERSION PROJECT STAFF, POLICE, PROSECUTORS, JUDGES, ACADEMICS, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES. THE PURPOSES OF THE CONFERENCE WERE TO ASSESS CANADA'S EXPERIENCE WITH DIVERSION, TO SET FUTURE DIRECTIONS, TO DEVELOP POLICY GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEGISLATION, AND TO WORK TOWARD A DEFINITION OF DIVERSION. THE REPORT, WHICH WAS COMPILED FROM PLENARY SESSION TRANSCRIPTS AND WORKSHOP DOCUMENTATION, DISCUSSES THE FOLLOWING: THE PROMISE AND DANGERS OF DIVERSION; THE IMPACT OF DIVERSION ON NATIVE PEOPLE; DIVERSION AND THE EXERCISE OF DISCRETION BY POLICE AND THE COURTS; ISSUES IN DIVERSION (WHETHER DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS SHOULD BE COMMUNITY BASED OR MANAGED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHETHER ELIGIBILITY SHOULD BE OFFENDER BASED OR OFFENSE BASED); THE NEED FOR LEGISLATIVE REVISION; EVALUATION OF DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS; GOALS AND STANDARDS; AND THE FUTURE OF DIVERSION IN CANADA. CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAINING TO THESE MATTERS ARE SUMMARIZED. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE A COPY OF THE CONFERENCE PROGRAM, A LIST OF DIVERSION INFORMATION RESOURCES IN CANADA, AND A WORKING PAPER ON DIVERSION STANDARDS AND GOALS. (LKM)