NCJ Number
46226
Journal
Juvenile Justice Volume: 28 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 41-45
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES OF DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PROTECT JUVENILE OFFENDERS FROM BEING INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE REVIEWED AND CRITICIZED.
Abstract
THE EMERGING WAVE OF DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS TRACED TO THE REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN 1967. IN THIS REPORT, THE PROCESSING OF JUVENILES THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL COURT SYSTEM IS VIEWED AS STIGMATIZING AND DESTRUCTIVE AS REGARDS POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL CHANGE; DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS ARE RECOMMENDED. FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SUCH PROGRAMS HAS SINCE PRODUCED THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EXPANSION OF DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS OF JUVENILE PROCESSING. THE IMPACT OF THESE PROGRAMS IS CONSIDERED TO BE LARGELY UNMEASURED. IT IS BELIEVED THAT EVALUATION STUDIES UP TO NOW HAVE FAILED TO PRODUCE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE AS TO THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF MOST DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE NUMBER OF JUVENILES AND THE SCOPE OF REFERRALS RELATED TO SUCH PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO INCREASE. IT IS NOTED THAT THE TREND OF EXPANSION APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING MOST RAPIDLY WITH STATUS OFFENDERS; HENCE, DRAWING MORE YOUTHS INTO THE SYSTEM. THE FEAR IS EXPRESSED THAT THE STATE WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY INVOLVED IN EVALUATING AND ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE THE BEHAVIOR OF JUVENILES, WITH THE ATTENDANT DANGER THAT TRADITIONAL, COSTLY RESTRAINING INSTITUTIONS MAY BE RECREATED. (RCB)