NCJ Number
89204
Date Published
1979
Length
114 pages
Annotation
This report assesses the impact of 13 juvenile diversion projects in Los Angeles County, Calif., on police and juvenile justice during 1977, with attention to the Regional Diversion Program's effects on the growth of diversion, on probation referrals, delinquency prevention, and costs.
Abstract
The use of diversion as a law enforcement disposition increased with implementation of the diversion program. By 1977, about 10 percent of all juvenile arrests in the county were referred to some social agency, an increase of more than 400 percent since 1972. Diversion has considerable potential for reducing the volume of referrals to probation; police diversions are equal to about 20 percent of the number of juveniles they refer to probation. However, the diversion program has been responsible at best for a 2-4-percent reduction in the volume of police referrals to probation. Lower arrest and recidivism rates for program participants indicate that the 13 projects have had a significant delinquency prevention effect on juvenile clients. Cost per client for this program was lower than virtually all other comparable programs examined in a sample of programs throughout the State, due apparently to the advantages of the program's purchase of service procedure. The program provides competitively priced youth services but has not saved large amounts of money for county police and juvenile justice agencies. Recommendations for program improvement are included. Graphs, footnotes, and data tables are supplied. (Author summary modified)