NCJ Number
49018
Journal
Juvenile Justice Volume: 27 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1976) Pages: 33-37
Date Published
1976
Length
5 pages
Annotation
PROBLEMS IN ESTABLISHING AN APPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS AND JUVENILE COURTS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
DIFFERENCES AMONG PROGRAMS LABELED AS DIVERSIONARY -INFORMAL COURT SERVICES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MULTISERVICE AGENCIES, YOUTH SERVICES BUREAUS, RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS -- ARE POINTED OUT. THE NEED FOR DIVERSION IS RESTATED AS THE NEED FOR SERVICES TO BE APPROPRIATED AND TO BE AVAILABLE TO TROUBLED YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES. THAT JUVENILE COURTS AND THEIR SURROUNDING SERVICES ARE UNDERSTAFFED, OVERCROWDED, AND INADEQUATE IS VIEWED AS AN INDICTMENT WITH REFERENCE TO APPROPRIATION AND DELIVERY, NOT TO THE INTENT OR CAPABILITY OF THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM GIVEN ADEQUATE RESOURCES. WAYS IN WHICH INDEPENDENT DIVERSION AGENCIES, SUCH AS YOUTH SERVICES BUREAUS, CAN PRESENT A CONFUSING, SOMETIMES QUESTIONABLE PICTURE OF THEIR WORK AND RESULTS ARE POINTED OUT. IT IS NOTED THAT JURISDICTION AND DIVERSION NEED NOT NECESSARILY GO HAND IN HAND. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE COURT RETAIN ITS JURISDICTION OVER DELINQUENT AND MISCREANT YOUTHS AND PURCHASE DIVERSION-TYPE SERVICES FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR BY CONTRACT. UNDER SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT, THE COURT COULD OVERSEE THE RESULTS AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SERVICES. THE NEED TO CREATE NEW BUREAUCRACIES TO ADMINISTER DIVERSION PROGRAMS WOULD BE ELIMINATED, AND DECISIONS REGARDING THE RIGHTS AND FUTURES OF PERSONS AND FAMILIES WOULD REMAIN WITH THE COURTS. (LKM)