NCJ Number
59592
Journal
DRUG ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM REVIEW Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1979) Pages: 1,3-8
Date Published
1979
Length
24 pages
Annotation
DIVERSION GOALS AND PROGRAM MODELS FOR DRUG OFFENDERS AND THE EVALUATION OF DIVERSION PROGRAMMING ARE EXAMINED IN TERMS OF CHANNELING DRUG ABUSERS AWAY FROM INCARCERATION AND INTO COMMUNITY TREATMENT RESOURCES.
Abstract
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMMATIC STRUCTURES FOR DRUG OFFENDERS THAT IMPLEMENT THE DIVERSION CONCEPT AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL. SINCE 1972, VARIOUS FEDERAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE LEAA, HAVE PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES TO STREET CRIME (TASC) DRUG DIVERSION PROJECTS. THE JULY 1978 TASC STATUS REPORT INDICATED THAT 65 COMMUNITIES WERE IN SOME STAGE OF TASC SPONSORSHIP AND THAT MORE THAN 38,000 DRUG ABUSERS HAD ENTERED THE TASC SYSTEM. DRUG DIVERSION IS AFFECTED BY SUCH ISSUES AS CIVIL LIBERTIES, PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS, PROJECT DESIGN, AND COMMUNITY VALUES. THE GENERAL PROGRAM EMPHASIS OF DIVERSION IS TO ACCOMPLISH BOTH SOCIAL ACTION AND REHABILITATIVE AIMS. UTILIZING THIS BROAD DEFINITIONAL APPROACH, DIVERSION REPRESENTS A COMPOSITE OF VARIOUS PROGRAM INTERVENTIONS PRACTICED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. LITERATURE INDICATES THAT THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONCEPT OF DIVERSION: STATUTORY DECRIMINALIZATION; USE OF THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ALTERNATIVE; ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES IN POLICE PRACTICES RESULTING IN THE USE OF SOCIAL SERVICES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ARREST; USE OF CITATIONS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CUSTODIAL ARREST; USE OF COMMUNITY TREATMENT RESOURCES AS AN ADJUNCT TO PROBATION SUPERVISION; PROSECUTORIAL OR JUDICIAL UTILIZATION OF FORMALLY ESTABLISHED PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS; DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF ANY TYPE AIMED AT SYSTEMATICALLY AVOIDING THE USE OF INCARCERATION; PREVENTION ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO DIMINISH COMMUNITY POTENTIAL FOR DEVIANCE THROUGH ENVIROMENTAL INTERVENTION; AND PREVENTION ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO REDUCE LATENT CRIMINAL TENDENCIES BY PROMOTING INCREASED SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IN MOST INSTANCES, HOWEVER, DIVERSION IS DEFINED IN RELATIVELY NARROW TERMS WITH REGARD TO PREADJUDICATION INTERVENTION, REMOVAL OF THE OFFENDER FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND PROVISION OF INDIVIDUALIZED REHABILITATIVE SERVICES. DIVERSION PROGRAM MODELS GENERALLY FOCUS ON SUCH DISCRIMINANT VARIABLES AS THE PROGRAM ENVIRONMENT, PRIMARY SPONSOR AFFILIATION, REFERRAL STAGE, BASIS OF DIVERSION AUTHORITY, TARGET POPULATION, AND PROGRAM SCOPE. THE TASC PROGRAM MODEL AND DIMENSIONS OF DIVERSION PROGRAM EVALUATION ARE DESCRIBED. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON DIVERSION ARE REVIEWED, AND FURTHER EFFORTS TO REFORM DIVERSION POLICIES ARE CONSIDERED. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)