NCJ Number
78697
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This videocassette explains the police juvenile dispositional process in Michigan and the advantages of police juvenile diversion.
Abstract
Police juvenile diversion falls under Section 14 of the Michigan Welfare Code, which provides for services to children. Previously, police juvenile diversion occurred in a more informal way. Various persons involved in providing services to juveniles explain the advantages of diversion in contrast to the processing of juveniles through the juvenile court system. Diversion allows the juvenile to be given counseling, vocational training, and other services and prevents the juvenile from being labeled 'delinquent.' Diversion reduces costs and has proven far more helpful to youth than being referred to the juvenile court. A total of 85 percent of the youth referred to diversion programs never see the inside of juvenile court in Michigan. In addition, diversion reduces juvenile court caseloads, thus allowing the court to devote its time to more serious cases. Diversion can be used successfully for most juveniles, except those who are habitual or violent offenders. Criteria for selecting youth for police juvenile diversion include the nature of the offense, the youth's age and maturity, the youth's past record, the home environment, and the youth's school record.