Question

1. What is the definition of diversion, and what are the goals of diversion?

2. How did the social climate in the 1960's and 1970's contribute to the movement toward diversion programs?

3. What criminological theory supports the use of diversion?

4. What is a "scared straight" program, and are such programs effective diversion programs? (On the local level, you see many short programs related to DUI around prom time).

5. What purpose does an intake unit serve in a juvenile court?

6. What are the typical factors used to determine whether a juvenile is referred for formal court action?

7. What is a detention (or preliminary) hearing, and how does it fit in to the intake process?

8. What effect has Schall v. Martin had on the preadjudication process?

Answer 1

• 1.Diversion, any of a variety of programs that implement strategies seeking to avoid the formal processing of an offender by the criminal justice system. Although those strategies, referred to collectively as diversion, take many forms, a typical diversion program results in a person who has been accused of a crime being directed into a treatment or care program as an alternative to criminal prosecution and imprisonment.
• There are two types of diversion: informal and formal. Informal diversion occurs when an official in the justice system decides, by using the appropriate discretion, that a case would be better kept out of the justice system. Such decisions occur every day. Police may consider diverting a suspect when the offense is minor (e.g., a traffic violation) and the suspect is calm and deferential.
• In more-formal situations, there is typically a program that the accused must complete as a condition of diversion. The offender is offered some form of treatment or voluntary sanction that, once completed, justifies the closing of the original case. For example, an offender who commits an act of domestic violence may be sent to an anger-management program.
• For the offender, the main goal of diversion is rehabilitation. Diversion programs provide offenders with essential services that can address the underlying causes of criminal behaviour, such as alcohol and drug abuse. It is hoped that diversion will allow offenders to establish a normal lifestyle, without the burden of a criminal record.
• A diversion program for young offenders. The primary goal of the program is to reduce the occurrence of juvenile crime by diverting youth from the traditional juvenile justice system and providing an alternative to formal processing.The goal of diversion programs is to reduce recidivism or the occurrence of problem behaviors without having to formally process youth in the justice system.

• 3.Diversion is primarily grounded in two different theories. Labeling theory emphasizes the stigma and negative consequences that youths may experience if they are labeled delinquent at a young age (Becker 1963).

• Differential association theory argues that youths can learn antisocial attitudes and behaviors by associating with peers who exhibit such behavior (Cressey 1952). Diversion attempts to minimize the effects of labeling associated with offending and limit the opportunities youths have to associate with antisocial peers by reducing their contact and exposure to the juvenile justice system.

• Due to time constraints only few have been answered,the rest of the questions can be asked as another question,thankyou