NCJ Number
14694
Journal
California Youth Authority Quarterly Volume: 27 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1974) Pages: 49-64
Date Published
1974
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAM IS DESCRIBED, WITH REASONS FOR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, PERCENTAGES OF JUVENILES IN THE PROGRAM, AND SOME REPORTS FROM POST-DIVERSION SURVEYS.
Abstract
THIS PROGRAM WAS INITIATED IN 1970, AND WAS CONDUCTED THROUGH THE COOPERATION OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES. REASONS CITED FOR THE DIVERSION PROGRAM ARE THE AVOIDANCE OF LABELING, JUVENILE COURT OVERCROWDING, COST/BENEFIT CONSIDERATIONS, AND IMPROVEMENT OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THIS PROGRAM CONCENTRATES ON PREVENTIVE DIVERSION, IDENTIFYING AND AIDING PREDELINQUENT YOUTHS. REPORTS OF POST-DIVERSION SURVEYS INDICATE THAT JUVENILES SELECTED FOR DIVERSION WERE THOSE WHO PRESENTED NO OVERT SAFETY HAZARD TO THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS TRUANTS OR RUNAWAYS. GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES ARE LISTED, AND WERE EMPLOYED IN THIS PROGRAM TO SELECT THE MOST APPROPRIATE AGENCIES FOR DIVERSION PROGRAMS.