Diversion Holds Youth Accountable While Reducing System Involvement

Juvenile diversion programs offer youth whose misbehavior rises to the level of criminal, but doesn’t cross the serious felony threshold, the opportunity to be held accountable for their actions while avoiding involvement in the juvenile justice system and the negative associated impacts. Critical to the success of youth diversion programs are cross-agency collaborations and partnerships with community-based organizations to help build needed capacity and lower costs to law enforcement. Juvenile diversions can lead to better outcomes for youth, their families, and the community.

This Juvenile Diversion Guide was compiled to be a resource for law enforcement, juvenile justice partners, and youth development stakeholders. It highlights research on juvenile diversion, descriptions of six key elements of diversion programs, discussion of ten types of diversion programs, and three case studies of local partnerships in Fresno, Los Angeles, and Napa Counties that are diverting youth away from the justice system.