NCJ Number
69378
Date Published
1977
Length
51 pages
Annotation
THE REPORT EVALUATES DATA ON THREE DIVERSION PROJECTS IN SOUTHEAST LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIF., IN TERMS OF THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN REDUCING BOTH JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND THE NUMBER OF JUVENILES REFERRED TO THE COURT SYSTEM.
Abstract
THE REPORT SUPPLEMENTS THE FIRST ANNUAL EVALUATION REPORTS FOR THE CERRITOS CORRIDOR JUVENILE DIVERSION PROJECT, THE POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES FOR YOUTH DIVERSION PROJECT (PAY), AND THE SOUTHEAST EARLY DIVERSION PROJECT (SEED). DIVERSION (REFERRAL TO A COMMUNITY AGENCY FOR COUNSELING OR OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES) IS USED TO GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AN ALTERNATIVE DISPOSITION FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS OTHER THAN COUNSEL AND RELEASE OR APPLICATION TO THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT FOR FILING A NON-DETAINED PETITION. ALL THREE PROJECTS WERE BEGUN IN 1975-76 AND ARE SIMILARLY ORGANIZED. TOGETHER THEY SERVE 14 CITIES PLUS SOME OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. ALTHOUGH SUCH OF THE FIRST YEAR WAS SPENT IN SETTING UP THE PROJECTS, DIVERSION AMONG THE PARTICIPATING SHERIFF'S STATIONS INCREASED 62 PERCENT BETWEEN 1975 AND 1976. ALTHOUGH THE DATA ON THE IMPACT OF DIVERSION ON INCIDENCE OF DELINQUENCY, RECIDIVISM, AND JUVENILE ARREST AND CRIME RATES IS DIFFICULT TO ASSESS IN TERMS OF ABSOLUTE CAUSE AND EFFECTS, THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE SUPPOSITIONS THAT JUVENILE DIVERSION RESULTS IN FEWER NON-DETAINED PETITION CASES FOR THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND THAT DIVERSION SERVICES REDUCE THE RECIDIVISM AND SUBSEQUENT DELINQUENCY OF DIVERTED JUVENILES. THUS, THE DIVERSION PROJECTS MAY BE ASSUMED TO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. TABLES SHOW THE DATA AND THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE VARIABLES DISCUSSED. FOR RELATED INFORMATION, SEE NCJRS 69514.