Juvenile Diversion Programs

Paper Summary:

The paper outlines the history of juvenile diversion programs in the United States, with a specific focus on California's juvenile diversion programs. The paper discusses the benefits and successes of these types of programs, looking at current diversion programs already in place. The paper examines literature that shows the financial advantages of juvenile diversion programs as compared to processing juvenile offenders through the criminal justice system. Finally, the paper concludes with recommendations for future studies on juvenile diversion programs.

Outline:
Introduction
Brief Background of Juvenile Delinquency and Attempts at Diversion
Support for Juvenile Diversion Programs
Background of Juvenile Diversion Programs
Pre-charge Diversion Programs
Specific Juvenile Diversion Programs Currently in Use
Brief Overview of the Juvenile Court System
Cost-Comparison of Juvenile Diversion Programs and the Criminal Justice System
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In the past few decades, juvenile delinquency has emerged as a significant criminal and sociological issue, raising concern among parents, educators, policy-makers and government officials alike. Juvenile delinquency has become a major crime issue in the United States; in California the public has been overwhelmed with stories from the media, providing graphic evidence of a crime wave generated by our youth who, according to media reports, prey upon a defenseless public. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention reports that on average, juveniles were involved in one-quarter of serious violent victimization annually over the last 25 years; juvenile offenders were known to be involved in about 1,100 murders in the U.S. in 2003; over 108,700 juveniles were in detention, correctional, or shelter facilities in 1995; and courts with juvenile jurisdiction disposed of more than 1.6 million delinquency cases in 2000."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Curtis, L. (1987). The Retreat of Folly: Some Modest Replications of Inner-City Success. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science: 494 Sage Publications, Beverley Hills.
• Dunford, F., Osgood, D. & Weichselbaum, H. (1982) National evaluation of diversion projects: Executive Summary. Washington: US Government Printing Office.
• Frost, L. & Shepherd, R. (1996). Mental Health Issues in Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings. Retrieved March 2, 2007, from the American Bar Association's Juvenile Justice Articles Web site: http://www.bradley.edu/campusorg/psiphi/DS9/ep/503r.html
• Josephson, M. (1998). 1998 Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth. Retrieved March 2, 2007, from The Josephson Institute of Ethics Web site: http://www.josephsoninstitute.org/98-Survey/98survey.htm
• Long, D., Mallar, C. & Thornton, C. (1981). Evaluating the Benefits and Costs of the Job Corps. Journal o Analysis and Management, 1(1):54-76.

More papers on Juvenile Diversion Programs:

• Research Paper # 148065 : "Juvenile Diversion Programs and Recidivism"
• Term Paper # 107074 : "Juvenile Diversion"
• Analytical Essay # 149388 : "Juvenile Crime Programs"

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