NCJ Number
130038
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1991) Pages: 189-191
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Some of the main points in the 1989 article by Davis et al. concerning the operation of the Northampton Juvenile Liaison Bureau are reasonable, particularly those about the Bureau's philosophy of diversion and the strategies by which it sought to achieve this, but these essentially have been overtaken by subsequent developments.
Abstract
Much has been done over the past two years to develop welfare and support systems to underpin diversion policies and to enlist the expertise and resources of County Council agencies to meet the needs of young offenders. A most important goal is to enhance public perceptions of the Bureau and its activities through its work in offense resolution. It uses reparation and mediation as methods to enhance the diversion process. The Bureau makes recommendations to the police in each case, but the police have the final decision on the outcome of any case and must be satisfied that proper consideration has been given to the resolution. Statistics for 1989 show a decline in the number of young persons prosecuted to around 12.5 percent of all referrals, a cautioning rate of 18.5 percent, and 69 percent of all referrals dealt with by noncitable disposals of "no further action" or "information action." The statistics indicate a high level of support on the part of the police service and general satisfaction with Bureau handling of cases. 1 reference