Evaluatin the Impact of Juvenile Diversion Programs

1976 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don C. Gibbons ◽  
Gerald F. Blake
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Diversion Programs ◽  
Hard Evidence ◽  
Juvenile Diversion ◽  
The Impact

One of the major current fads in criminal and juvenile justice programing is diversion of offenders. At the same time, little hard evidence exists in support of diversion policies. 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 upon the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles County. Most of these evaluation studies were flawed by small sample numbers and other methodological defects. As a result, it cannot yet be said that diversion arguments and proposals are buttressed by firm research support.

Juvenile Diversion: A Look at the Record

1984 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 648-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Polk
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Recent Article ◽  
Alternative Explanation ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Diversion Programs ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Juvenile Diversion ◽  
Gathering Data ◽  
Empirical Record

A recent article by Binder and Geis (1984) observed that the negative response to diversion on the part of sociologists is at variance with the actual record of juvenile diversion, and concluded that this response results from disciplinary narrowness, distrust of police, and overidentification with the underdog. An alternative explanation is that sociologists are, in fact, responding precisely to the empirical record available regarding diversion. That record suggests that although some research reports positive effects of diversion, it is difficult to ignore the data which show that diversion programs may either have no effect or may possibly even be harmful. That record indicates that diversion may not be achieving its stated goal of diverting offenders away from the juvenile justice system, but instead may be a device for expanding both the size of the juvenile justice system and the forms of behavior that come under its control. An argument can be made grounded in data which suggests that diversion programs may be taking on particular functions with respect to girls, and thus may be leading to unanticipated forms of hidden sexism. In gathering data and in making these arguments, sociologists may not be engaged as much in some antidiversionist frenzy as they are expressing their concern for the drift of an important policy away from its intended course.

The Impact of Victimization, Mental Health Problems, and Disabilities on Juvenile Justice Processing: Does Gender Matter?

2020 ◽  
pp. 001112872095002
Author(s):  
Allison T. Chappell ◽  
Scott R. Maggard
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Delinquent Behavior ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
The Impact

Victimization, mental health problems, and disabilities are associated with an increased likelihood of delinquent behavior, and girls in the juvenile justice system report higher rates of past trauma and victimization, sexual abuse, and mental health issues than boys. However, the influence of these problems on juvenile justice processing remains understudied. This study investigated the impact of victimization, mental health problems, disabilities, and comorbidity on intake and adjudication decisions across gender. Data on 74,636 intake cases were obtained from the centralized database of the juvenile justice office in a mid-Atlantic state (FY 2011–2015). Findings suggest that mental health problems, victimization, and disabilities are associated with increased punitiveness at intake but few consistent gender differences emerged. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Ad Populum Argumentation in Criminology: Juvenile Diversion as Rhetoric

1984 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 624-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold Binder ◽  
Gilbert Geis
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Social Process ◽  
Young Offenders ◽  
Large Array ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Ad Populum ◽  
Juvenile Diversion

For a variety of reasons, some valid, many irrelevant, it has become fashionable within sociological criminology to condemn juvenile diversion. Participants in the condemnatory rituals identify each other as insiders by catchy words and phrases (like “widening the net”), and frequently substitute rhetoric for logic in their argumentation aimed both at gaining cultic recognition and winning over the unwary. Perhaps the most damaging consequence is the forfeiture of influence in an important social process by a large array of social scientists. Contrary to the predictions of some in the cult, diversion remains a flourishing mode of serving young offenders, as indeed it must so long as the present juvenile justice system remains in operation.

The Discontinuity of Offending Among African American Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 610-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail B. Williams ◽  
Joseph P. Ryan ◽  
Pamela E. Davis-Kean ◽  
Vonnie C. McLoyd ◽  
John E. Schulenberg
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Impulse Control ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Developmental Change ◽  
African American Youth ◽  
Parental Supervision ◽  
The Impact

Little is known about what factors contribute to African American youth desisting from offending. Participants were 3,230 moderate- to high-risk adolescents from Washington State who completed a statewide risk assessment to assess the likelihood of recidivism. Participants were screened by juvenile probation officers between 2003 and 2010. Researchers investigated whether youth possessed protective factors and whether developmental change took place after contact with the juvenile justice system. It was hypothesized that having protective factors would decrease the likelihood of recidivism and the impact of each factor would differ by gender. Findings indicate African American youth have protective factors across a range of domains. However, little developmental change occurs after contact with the juvenile justice system. Impulse control, parental supervision, and pro-social peers were important for reducing recidivism. Problem solving was more influential for African American males, while impulse control and parental supervision were more influential for African American females. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

scholarly journals Criminalização, racialização e patologização: as origens do sistema de justiça juvenil da Califórnia

Plural ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-193
Author(s):  
Eduardo Gutierrez Cornelius
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
University Of California

Resenha de Chávez-García, Miroslava. States of Delinquency: Race and Science in the Making of California’s Juvenile Justice System. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2012.

The Application of Risk–Needs Programming in a Juvenile Diversion Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1128-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey E. Wylie ◽  
Samantha S. Clinkinbeard ◽  
Anne Hobbs
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Survival Function ◽  
Diversion Programs ◽  
Diversion Program ◽  
Rnr Model ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Juvenile Diversion ◽  
Racial Ethnic

As “gatekeepers” into the juvenile justice system, diversion programs are positioned to prevent future delinquency. Although research on the effectiveness of diversion is mixed, the risk–needs–responsivity (RNR) model may explain how diversion programming that matches youth to services based on their risk and needs may reduce reoffending. Most RNR research has included juveniles at the deeper end of the system, fewer studies have examined RNR with early system–involved youth. The current study explored the application of risk and needs matching in a juvenile diversion program by gender and race/ethnicity. Furthermore, we estimated a survival function to estimate risk and needs alignment on time to recidivism. Although there were no gender differences in the application of RNR, some racial/ethnic differences did emerge. Findings provide support for assessing diversion youth with the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) and applying the RNR framework to early system–involved youth assessed as low to moderate risk.

Ad Populum Argumentation in Criminology: Juvenile Diversion as Rhetoric

1984 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold Binder ◽  
Gilbert Geis
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Social Process ◽  
Young Offenders ◽  
Large Array ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Ad Populum ◽  
Juvenile Diversion

For a variety of reasons, some valid, many irrelevant, it has become fashionable within sociological criminology to condemn juvenile diversion. Participants in the condemnatory rituals identify each other as insiders by catchy words and phrases (like “widening the net”), and frequently substitute rhetoric for logic in their argumentation aimed both at gaining cultic recognition and winning over the unwary. Perhaps the most damaging consequence is the forfeiture of influence in an important social process by a large array of social scientists. Contrary to the predictions of some in the cult, diversion remains a flourishing mode of serving young offenders, as indeed it must so long as the present juvenile justice system remains in operation.

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