Juvenile Diversion Research Articles

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

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.

Factors Associated With Successful Completion of a Community-Based, Postarrest Juvenile Diversion Program and Subsequent Rearrest

Although diversion programs can allow arrested youth to avoid formal justice system processing, unsuccessful program completion can result in adjudication. Thus, it is important to determine whether youth successfully complete programs and identify factors linked to success. We examined records from 933 postarrest diversion program participants. Youth received a wide range of conditions during participation and the vast majority successfully completed the program, became eligible for record expungement, and avoided rearrest within 3 years. Analyses revealed significant relationships between program completion and factors related to referral charge and imposed conditions; gender and program outcome were also linked to recidivism. Results both support the use of diversion programs to limit formal juvenile justice processing and encourage further evaluation of such programs.

Examining the impact of a juvenile justice diversion program for youth with behavioral health concerns on early adulthood recidivism

The majority of juvenile justice-involved youth report significant behavioral health and trauma concerns. The complexity of the needs of these youth have led many jurisdictions to develop diversion programming as an alternative to detention. While evidence exists that these programs can produce positive outcomes, particularly as they relate to juvenile recidivism, much less is known about their impact on adult offending. To explore this, we examined data from Ohio's Behavioral Health Juvenile Justice (BHJJ) Initiative, a diversion program for juvenile justice-involved youth with behavioral health issues. Three groups were examined, youth appropriate for BHJJ but who did not participate, youth who participated but did not complete treatment, and youth who successfully completed treatment. Results indicated youth who successfully completed BHJJ had lower odds of offending as young adults and fewer young adult offenses compared to youth who completed unsuccessfully or who did not participate. Implications for juvenile diversion programming are discussed.

Decriminalizing Racialized Youth through Juvenile Diversion

Decriminalizing Racialized Youth through Juvenile Diversion

Psychometric properties of the UNCOPE: Screening for DSM-5 substance use disorder among a state juvenile justice population

ABSTRACTThis study evaluated the clinical utility of a brief 6-item screen in identifying risk for DSM-5 substance use disorder (SUD) among a sample of male juvenile justice offenders. Data derived from routine clinical evaluations of 503 consecutive admissions (88.1% White) to juvenile detention facilities and diversion courts in a New England state were used for the present analysis. All juveniles were administered the 6-item screen as part of a structured diagnostic interview to assess for SUD indications and common co-occurring mental health conditions, and identify potential treatment needs subsequent to involvement in the state system. Results revealed that a cut-score of 3+ yielded sensitivity estimates of 94.4% and 87.1% for a severe diagnosis only, and moderate or severe diagnosis, respectively. A 3+ cut-score resulted in specificity estimates ranging from 86.9%–94.2% depending on the targeted diagnostic category. Internal consistency, as evidenced by Cronbach’s alpha, was excellent (α = .915).

A tale of two states: how U.S. state legislatures consider restorative justice policies

This paper explores recent state legislative processes in Colorado and Texas related to bills proposing support for restorative justice as a juvenile diversion tool for criminal courts. It uses two maximum variation case studies to explore issue statements related to theoretically-supported factors likely to influence the adoption of restorative justice legislation, and draws conclusions about the importance of political partisanship, economic strain, and key figures such as policy entrepreneurs, advocacy coalitions, and interest groups in legislative decision-making. Emerging themes suggest that support for restorative justice policies is at least sometimes bipartisan and is unlikely to be motivated by economic interests. Collaborative processes within a traditionally adversarial system distinguished successful restorative justice decision-making in Colorado.

Describing theoretical underpinnings in juvenile justice diversion: A case study explicating Teen Court program theory to guide research and practice

In light of evidence that justice system involvement contributes to poor social, economic, and health consequences for youth, many jurisdictions have begun to implement diversion programs for first-time or low-level juvenile offenders. While Teen Court—a program in which youth are judged by their peers and assigned development-oriented sentences—is a prevalent model of juvenile justice diversion, its theoretical basis has not been empirically examined. This in-depth case study sought to describe current practice and characterize theoretical assumptions of the Los Angeles County Teen Court program. Methods included: 1) structured observations of Teen Court hearings (n=12); and 2) key informant interviews with youth processed through Teen Court (n=10). Case findings illustrate the Los Angeles County Teen Court program's focus on hierarchical decision-making, procedural consistency, and deterrence paired with development-oriented supports and services. Practices reflect a combination of retributive and rehabilitative theoretical perspectives, with limited alignment to the reparative perspective. Results from qualitative interviews support the possible positive impacts of Teen Court on program participants; however, given the potentially competing theoretical assumptions that influence local practice, additional work is needed to better understand the relative value of this approach. The practice-grounded logic model developed through this case study provides a foundation for future research and practice locally, including outcome evaluation. The processes and tools described in this study provide an example for other jurisdictions seeking to conduct theory-informed planning and assessment of juvenile diversion efforts.

New Call for Assessing the Effects of 21stCentury Juvenile Diversion

New Call for Assessing the Effects of 21^stCentury Juvenile Diversion

Reading for Life and Adolescent Re‐Arrest: Evaluating a Unique Juvenile Diversion Program

AbstractWe present results of an evaluation of Reading for Life (RFL), a diversion program for nonviolent juvenile offenders in a medium‐sized Midwestern county. The unique program uses philosophical virtue theory, works of literature, and small mentoring groups to foster moral development in juvenile offenders. Participants were randomly assigned to RFL treatment or a comparison program of community service. The RFL program generated large and statistically significant drops in future arrests. The program was particularly successful at reducing the recidivism of more serious offenses and for those groups with the highest propensity for future offenses.

Effects of Goal Commitment and Solution Building on the Completion Rates for a Juvenile Diversion Program

Strengths-based, goal-focused approaches to working with at-risk youth have been successfully used by mentoring programs, therapeutic interventions, prevention programs, and self-help groups. However, few such approaches have been used to inform juvenile diversion programs. This is partially explained by limited empirical research on mechanisms of change used by goal-focused interventions in populations of young offenders. The authors use goal-setting theory to explore the effects of goal commitment and solution building on program completion, in a sample of violent first-time offenders ( N = 159). Mediation effects of solution building in the relationship between goal commitment and program completion were tested using both Baron and Kenny’s and Preacher and Hayes’s approaches. Results showed that high goal commitment and solution building were significant predictors of program completion. In addition, solution building fully mediated the impact of goal commitment on program completion. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Larva, nymph and naiad – for accuracy's sake

Larva, nymph and naiad – for accuracy's sake

The Impact of Two Los Angeles County Teen Courts on Youth Recidivism: Comparing Two Informal Probation Programs.

This study sought to examine the impact of two Teen Courts operating in Los Angeles County, a juvenile justice system diversion program in which youth are judged by their peers and given restorative sentences to complete during a period of supervision. A quasi-experimental design was used to compare youth who participated in Teen Court (n=112) to youth who participated in another diversion program administered by the Probation Department (the 654 Contract program) (n=194). Administrative data were abstracted from Probation records for all youth who participated in these programs between January 1, 2012 and June 20, 2014. Logistic and survival models were used to examine differences in recidivism - measured as whether the minor had any subsequent arrest or arrests for which the charge was filed. Comparison group participants had higher rates of recidivism than Teen Court participants, after controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and risk level. While the magnitude of the program effects were fairly consistent across model specifications (odd ratios comparing Teen Court [referent] to school-based 654 Contract ranging from 1.95 to 3.07, hazard ratios ranging from 1.62 to 2.27), differences were not statistically significant in all scenarios. While this study provides modest support for the positive impact of Teen Court, additional research is needed to better understand how juvenile diversion programs can improve youth outcomes.

Racial Disparity in Juvenile Diversion

Purpose: Interpretations of focal concerns and “loose coupling” are used to explain juvenile diversion decisions by police and prosecutors from a large metropolitan county in the Midwest. Methods: Juveniles eligible for police diversion are compared to those actually diverted using a population of juveniles arrested in eight police urban and suburban agencies. Multinomial logistic regression is used to analyze data on juveniles referred for charging in the same county. Results: Non-White juveniles were significantly less likely to be diverted by police, formally entering them into the juvenile justice system earlier than their White counterparts. Prosecutors charged, rather than diverted, non-White juveniles significantly more frequently than White juveniles, particularly for theft cases. Conclusion: The racial disparity observed may result from differing focal concerns and loose coupling in the first stages of the justice system.

Recidivism Rates Among Participants of a Juvenile Diversion Program in Chicago

Recidivism Rates Among Participants of a Juvenile Diversion Program in Chicago

Individual and Familial Variables for Predicting Successful Completion of a Juvenile Justice Diversion Program

A key variable in the success of a juvenile justice diversion program (i.e., avoiding reoffending) is completing the program. Little is known about which variables predict successful completion. The present study examined demographics; behavioral histories; current behaviors; and family, school, and social issues among participants drawn from a metropolitan Detroit diversion program. Logistic regression analyses identified variables predictive of program completion. Key predictors included race, aggressive behavior, previous counseling or treatment, poor academic performance, diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, and parental reports of not contributing to household chores. Recommendations for modifying diversion programs based on these findings are offered.

Diet of the Tepalcatepec Valley whiptail,Aspidoscelis calidipes(Squamata: Teiidae), in Michoacán, México

Abstract We investigated the diet of the endemic teiid lizard Aspidoscelis calidipes in the Balsas-Tepalcatepec Basin in the state of Michoacan, Mexico, during 2010 and 2011. We removed, analyzed, and identified stomach contents to order or family. The diet of A. calidipes consisted of 27 prey taxa and the dietary diversity was low (H′ = 0.45). Termites and ants were the most important prey items. Adult and juvenile lizards consumed greater proportions of termites than any other prey item by number, volume, and frequency. Diet diversity of juveniles was higher (H′ = 1.15) than that of adults (H′= 0.28). Dietary overlap between adults and juveniles was 49%.

Effects of historic metal(loid) pollution on earthworm communities

The effects of metal(loid)s (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, As and Sb) from atmospheric fallout on earthworm communities were investigated in a fallow meadow located close to a 60-year-old lead recycling factory. We examined abundance and species diversity as well as the ratio of adult-to-juvenile earthworms, along five 140m parallel transects. The influence of soil pollution on the earthworm community at the plot scale was put in context by measuring some physico-chemical soil characteristics (OM content, N content, pH), as well as total and bioavailable metal(loid) concentrations. Earthworms were absent in the highly polluted area (concentration from 30,000 to 5000mgPb·kg−1 of dried soil), just near the factory (0–30m area). A clear and almost linear relationship was observed between the proportion of juvenile versus mature earthworms and the pollution gradient, with a greater proportion of adults in the most polluted zones (only adult earthworms were observed from 30 to 50m). Apporectodea longa was the main species present just near the smelter (80% of the earthworms were A. longa from 30 to 50m). The earthworm density was found to increase progressively from five individuals·m−2 at 30m to 135individuals·m−2 at 140m from the factory. On average, metal(loid) accumulation in earthworm tissues decreased linearly with distance from the factory. The concentration of exchangeable metal(loid)s in earthworm surface casts was higher than that of the overall soil. Finally, our field study clearly demonstrated that metal(loid) pollution has a direct impact on earthworm communities (abundance, diversity and proportion of juveniles) especially when Pb concentrations in soil were higher than 2050mg·kg−1.

Being “SMART” About Adolescent Conduct Problems Prevention: Executing a SMART Pilot Study in a Juvenile Diversion Agency

The development of adaptive treatment strategies (ATS) represents the next step in innovating conduct problems prevention programs within a juvenile diversion context. Toward this goal, we present the theoretical rationale, associated methods, and anticipated challenges for a feasibility pilot study in preparation for implementing a full-scale SMART (i.e., sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial) for conduct problems prevention. The role of a SMART design in constructing ATS is presented. The SMART feasibility pilot study includes a sample of 100 youth (13–17 years of age) identified by law enforcement as early stage offenders and referred for precourt juvenile diversion programming. Prior data on the sample population detail a high level of ethnic diversity and approximately equal representations of both genders. Within the SMART, youth and their families are first randomly assigned to one of two different brief-type evidence-based prevention programs, featuring parent-focused behavioral management or youth-focused strengths-building components. Youth who do not respond sufficiently to brief first-stage programming will be randomly assigned a second time to either an extended parent- or youth-focused second-stage programming. Measures of proximal intervention response and measures of potential candidate tailoring variables for developing ATS within this sample are detailed. Results of the described pilot study will include information regarding feasibility and acceptability of the SMART design. This information will be used to refine a subsequent full-scale SMART. The use of a SMART to develop ATS for prevention will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of prevention programing for youth with developing conduct problems.

4-H PetPALS Juvenile Diversion Program Supports At-Risk Youth and Seniors

The 4-H PetPALS Juvenile Diversion Program provides a partnership opportunity with Extension and the juvenile court system to positively impact lives of at-risk youth. At-risk youth are taught by 4-H PetPALS adult volunteer leaders and 4-H PetPALS members to value and respect the human-animal bond, as well as to understand and empathize with senior adults who require skilled nursing care. At-risk youth interact with youth exhibiting positive behaviors, pets that are predictable and inspire confidence in whom they visit, and senior citizens who crave interaction with young people, making a rewarding experience for everyone involved in this program.

The Juvenile Justice System and Diversion Program in Puerto Rico: A Therapeutic or Anti-Therapeutic System?

This paper focuses on the Juvenile Justice System and the Diversion program established in Puerto Rico. It analyzes whether the system and program takes into account the needs of the minors that come into contact with the system. Converting the system and program into one, which can be considered as therapeutic or anti-therapeutic. It further discusses different countries that have implemented a therapeutic juvenile justice system to focus on the needs of the minors.