NCJ Number
60092
Date Published
1979
Length
15 pages
Annotation
DATA ON JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAMS IN 3 WASHINGTON COUNTIES ARE REPORTED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAMS INAUGURATED IN 1978 RESULTING FROM THE JUVENILE COURT ACT OF 1977.
Abstract
THE 1977 LAW FORMALIZED THE INFORMAL AGREEMENT SYSTEM USED BY THE STATE'S JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENTS IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP MINOR OFFENDERS OUT OF THE FORMAL JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM. IN ISLAND COUNTY'S PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDED 2 DIVERSION UNITS, AVERAGE RESTITUTION WAS $59.82; AVERAGE COMMUNITY SERVICE, 25.62 HOURS. ALL YOUTHS COMPLETED THEIR AGREEMENTS WHICH AVERAGED 51.66 DAYS, AND 4.3 PERCENT COMMITTED ADDITIONAL OFFENSES. IN SKAGIT COUNTY'S PROGRAM, GROUP INTAKE MEETINGS AND A TRAINING CLASS DEALING WITH FAMILY COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS WERE HELD. USE OF ADVISING AND RELEASING A CHILD INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY TO 14.8 PERCENT, IN CONTRAST TO THE FORMER SYSTEM OF DISMISSING THE CASE TO THE PARENT. RESTITUTION WAS REQUIRED IN 4.2 PERCENT OF THE CASES; THE TRAINING CLASS IN HALF THE CASES; AND COMMUNITY SERVICE IN 24 PERCENT, USUALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER METHODS. AVERAGE DIVERSION AGREEMENT LENGTH WAS 22.4 PERCENT. SIXTEEN JUVENILES (10.3 PERCENT) WERE REREFERRED, IN COMPARISON WITH 11.9 PERCENT OF A COMPARISON GROUP. IN WHATCOM COUNTY, THE DIVERSION PROGRAM WAS SUBCONTRACTED TO THE VOLUNTARY ACTION CENTER. OF THE 205 CASES DIVERTED, 25.5 PERCENT WERE COUNSELED AND RELEASED; 29.8 PERCENT HAD DIVERSION AGREEMENTS THAT INCLUDED A REQUIRED EDUCATIONAL, INFORMATIONAL, OR COUNSELING SESSION; 44.7 PERCENT DID COMMUNITY SERVICE; AND NONE HAD REQUIRED RESTITUTION. AVERAGE DIVERSION AGREEMENT LENGTH WAS 61.6 DAYS. IN CONTRAST, THE FORMER SYSTEM REFERRED 68 PERCENT OF THE YOUTHS TO PARENTS AND CLOSED THEIR CASES, AND REQUIRED COMMUNITY SERVICE OF 11.4 PERCENT.