NCJ Number
84795
Journal
Research Bulletin Issue: 9 Dated: (1980) Pages: 9-20
Date Published
1980
Length
12 pages
Annotation
These articles on diversion in the British criminal justice system consider some definitions of diversion, research on alternatives to custody, the diversionary potential of junior attendance centers, and reducing the custodial population.
Abstract
The article on diversion definitions suggests that the term diversion is an ambiguous and loose one and that for research as well as for practical purposes, the meaning needs to be clarified, both in its narrower sense of diversion of offenders from custody as well as in its wider sense of diversion from the criminal justice system. The article on alternatives to custody suggests that courts should be consulted more about whether these alternatives should be viewed as forms of support or control, while research should show whether schemes are fully implemented and used for their intended purpose. In the discussion of junior attendance centers, the centers are viewed as incorporating some of the features which, if extended, might encourage courts to use them more often as alternatives to custody. The final article suggests that the most effective way to reduce the custodial population is for the courts to render shorter custodial sentences. One to 12 references accompany each article.