JUVENILE DIVERSION - NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM - PHASE 1 - SUMMARY REPORT

• NCJ Number: 32847
• Author(s): A RUTHERFORD; R MCDERMOTT
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 56 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-NI-99-0081
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Regents of the University of Minnesota
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM

Annotation

THIS ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING TRADITIONAL AND MODERN JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAMS, IS BASED ON BOTH AN ANALYSIS OF EXISTING LITERATURE AND SITE VISITS TO SELECTED PROJECTS.

Abstract

DISCUSSION OF THE CONCEPT OF JUVENILE DIVERSION HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY A LACK OF RIGOROUS DEFINITION AND CAREFUL MEASUREMENT OF ITS IMPACT. THIS STUDY, WHICH IS PART OF LEAA'S NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM, ATTEMPTS TO CLARIFY THE DEFINITIONAL PROBLEM AND TO EXPLAIN EXISTING DIVERSION PROCESSES. MAJOR ISSUES IN JUVENILE DIVERSION ARE OUTLINED IN THE INTRODUCTION. A DISTINCTION IS MADE BETWEEN 'TRADITIONAL' DIVERSION WHICH SEEKS WAYS OF PREVENTING CERTAIN JUVENILES FROM ENTERING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND 'NEW' DIVERSION WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH IN AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE PENETRATION INTO THE SYSTEM. RESEARCH LITERATURE ON JUVENILE DIVERSION IS CATEGORIZED AND REVIEWED IN THE NEXT SECTION. A DIVERSION TYPOLOGY IS THEN OFFERED, STRESSING THE ORGANIZATIONAL DYNAMICS OF DIVERSION PROGRAMMING. THREE MAJOR PROGRAM TYPES ARE SUGGESTED: 1) LEGAL, WHICH COVERS PROGRAMS INITIATED AND ADMINISTERED BY FORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL AGENCIES, 2) PARALEGAL, WHICH INCLUDES PROJECTS EXISTING OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICIAL STRUCTURE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM BUT ADMINISTERED AND STAFFED BY SYSTEM PERSONNEL, AND 3) NONLEGAL WHICH IS COMPOSED OF PROGRAMS OPERATING APART FROM AND OUTSIDE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE UTILITY OF THIS TYPOLOGY IS EXPLORED BY ITS APPLICATION TO THE 13 PROJECTS SELECTED FOR SITE VISITS. IN THE NEXT SECTION, THE PROCESS OF DIVERSION IS ANALYZED THROUGH AN EXAMINATION OF PROGRAMS OPERATED BY EACH MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL SECTOR IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM -- POLICE, PROBATION - AND AGENCIES OUTSIDE OF THE SYSTEM. FINALLY, CONCLUSIONS ARE SUGGESTED ON THE DEFINITIONAL PROBLEM, THE APPLICATION OF LABELING THEORY TO JUVENILE DIVERSION, AND MEASURES OF SUCCESS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE DIVERSION PROGRAMMING PHENOMENON HAS NEGATIVE EFFECTS. THE MERE EXISTENCE OF PROGRAM COMPONENTS MAY SERVE TO ALTER OR ABOLISH TRADITIONAL DIVERSION PROCESSES SUCH AS SCREENING. IT IS IN THIS MANNER THAT DIVERSION MAY INCREASE THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF JUVENILES CONTACTED BY THE SYSTEM AND PERHAPS INCREASE THE FINANCIAL COST INCURRED BY THAT SYSTEM. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED.