NCJ Number
75199
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The evolution of diversion programs and key factors in their development are discussed, court prejudices toward particular drug abuse treatment modalities are weighed, and issues related to actual operation of diversion programs for drug abusers are analyzed.
Abstract
The article notes that the use of diversion has been expanded to include individuals who were specifically excluded from earlier diversionary manpower training programs. The formation of LEAA-funded model programs for drug offenders through its Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) programs has expanded the scope of local diversion programs. Political and practical factors in diversion programs include: (1) Consistent demonstrations of program credibility to all interested parties, including the community, the court, defense attorneys, and prosecuting attorneys; (2) Geographic location of the program in relation to the physical location of the court and jail (or jails), and (3) Availability and quality of various types of treatment programs for drug abusers. Courts may prefer one of the following three types of programs predominantly employed: the drug-free residential community, the drug-free outpatient program, and programs using methadone maintenance therapy. Establishment of a diversion program as an independent agency gives the program independence in making treatment recommendations and enables the agency to act as a negotiator in differences of opinion between the judge, the prosecuting attorney or the public defender. Several key issues in diversion program operation that are discussed include: offender eligibility requirements, conditions established regarding admission into drug diversion programs, restrictions upon the type of referral modality to be used, whether the diversion program is to operate on a pretrial or posttrial basis, and where individual defendants are going to be interviewed.