Delinquent Diversion Programs
This paper will thoroughly cover the establishment of Juvenile Delinquent Diversion Programs and how it contributes to recidivism rates among young offenders. The first part will discuss a detailed description of delinquent diversion programs along with its history and purpose behind its creation. The second part will discuss specifically the Juvenile Drug-Court Diversion Program and how it is applied to the traditional court process. The final part will touch on how the Juvenile Drug-Court Diversion Program contributes to recidivism rates among young offenders in addition to sanctions that are given to those who do not successfully complete the program.
History of Diversion Programs
In the late 1960s, diversion …show more content…
They take place early and have adapted a more efficient method of assessment intakes. They focus greatly on how the juvenile functions and their family’s history in the juvenile court system. They closely integrate the information obtained during the assessment process that relates to the juvenile along with his or her family. There is also greater coordination and organization during the court process, the school by which the juvenile attends, the prevention treatment programs, and other agencies in the community that offers help to juvenile delinquents. (Mitchell, 2012) This is to properly assess the juvenile to the needs of the court process. Along with that, the court process is a lot more active when it comes to judicial supervision of the juvenile to ensure that he or she is assessed correctly during the treatment process. Because of this, it leads to the increased use of immediate action for those who does not comply to the entire court process. The court is then required to provide incentives for progress for the family of the juvenile. The Escambia County Juvenile Drug Court in Pensacola, Florida was established in 1996. This court, unlike others, has made a 12-month, three phase approach to handling substance use and abuse. Phase one lasts two months, phase two lasts four months, and phase three lasts six months. (Spohn, 2001, p. 162) The …show more content…
Only a small fraction of youth offenders who enroll into the program end up successfully completing it. Although graduation from this program is an indication that the juvenile offender has received substance abuse treatment and has completed it, the low graduation rates have begun to concern a great deal of judges. However, if a juvenile is not enrolled into the program and given a fair opportunity to restore themselves with the substance abuse treatment, then they will remain unaffected. Several clients have been seen to display a direct correlation the substance abuse treatment program and graduating from the drug court. Among those clients, it shows that female juvenile offenders have higher graduation rates than males. (Downs, 1997, p. 17) Those of ethnic background, on the other hand, has been shown to be the least likely to complete the program and display higher recidivism rates above all others. Along with that, severe addicts are also among those who are least likely to successfully complete the program as they their brains will not allow them to suddenly be treated and will take extensive treatment to eliminate their problem. Age is sometimes an indicator of graduation, but often it is shown in older juveniles that they will not complete the program to its entirely due to the severity of their cases. The program as a whole makes a significant impact on the decisions made by offenders after