Diverting Young Offenders from the Formal Justice System (From Preventing Juvenile Crime Conference Proceedings No. 9, 1991, P 81-87 Julia Vernon, Sandra McKillop, eds. -- See NCJ-135877)

• NCJ Number: 135886
• Author(s): J Heslop
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

Two alternatives to institutionalization for juvenile offenders, police cautioning and the juvenile and mediation reparation programs, in New South Wales are described.

Abstract

The major objective of the cautioning program is to divert early and less serious offenders and to allow court time for more serious or recidivist cases. A caution is a formal procedure in which the offender admits to the commission of a less serious offense and agrees to participate with a parent or guardian in the caution process at a police station. In the mediation/reparation program, young offenders are encouraged to make direct amends to the victims of the crime. The offender may directly apologize to the victim or may perform work directly for the victim or in an area agreed to by the victim and offender. Mediation is a voluntary process that provides a third party to facilitate the communication and understanding between the victim and offender in determining an appropriate reparation agreement. At any stage of the process either party may withdraw from participation. Any agreement between the two parties is monitored by the Community Justice Center. Benefits are incurred in this type of program for the victim, the young offender, the community, and the police. 3 references