NCJ Number
37432
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1976) Pages: 411-420
Date Published
1976
Length
10 pages
Annotation
NINE STUDIES OF THE OUTCOMES OF SPECIFIC JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAMS ARE REVIEWED IN THIS PAPER, ALONG WITH AN INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF DIVERSION PROGRAMS ON THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
Abstract
ONE OF THE MAJOR CURRENT TRENDS IN CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMMING IS DIVERSION OF OFFENDERS. AT THE SAME TIME, LITTLE HARD EVIDENCE EXISTS IN SUPPORT OF DIVERSION POLICIES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS (1) EXAMINE EVIDENCE REGARDING THE EFFECTS OF SPECIFIC DIVERSION PROGRAMS AND ESPECIALLY (2) TO IDENTIFY (A) THE STRENGTHS THAT LEND CREDENCE TO THE REPORTED RESULTS OF THESE EVALUATED EFFORTS AND (B) THE SHORTCOMINGS THAT CAST DOUBTS UPON THEM. THE SECOND OF THESE TWO PURPOSES WAS GIVEN MORE EMPHASIS, SINCE THE AUTHORS WISHED TO STRESS PROBLEMS IN EXISTING EVALUATIONS STUDIES THAT NEED TO BE DEALT WITH IN RESEARCH EVALUATION OF NEW PROGRAMS. THE STUDY SHOWED THAT MOST OF THESE EVALUATION STUDIES WERE FLAWED BY SMALL SAMPLE NUMBERS AND OTHER METHODOLOGICAL DEFECTS. BASED ON THESE RESULTS, THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT IT CANNOT YET BE SAID THAT DIVERSION ARGUMENTS AND PROPOSALS ARE BUTTRESSED BY FIRM RESEARCH SUPPORT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)