Expand the Use of Diversion From the Juvenile Justice System
Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation
Resource Type: Documents and Publications
Focus Population: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), People with Criminal or Juvenile Justice System Involvement, Youth, Transition Age Youth (TAY)
Topics: Criminal or Juvenile Justice System
This brief presents the research case for significantly expanding the use of diversion in the juvenile justice system. The alternative — arresting young people and formally processing their cases in juvenile court — increases their likelihood of subsequent arrests, school struggles and employment challenges. Juvenile court processing is especially detrimental for youth who are not at high risk of rearrest. Nonetheless, a significant share of cases formally processed in U.S. juvenile courts still involve youth who are assessed as low risk and have little or no prior record of delinquency.