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Data Collection

Quantitative data from the inception of the Youth Diversion Program in 2013 through

November 2017 were gathered by the YDP’s Diversion Specialists, SROs, and a data analyst with

the law enforcement agency. These data include demographic variables, diversion status, offenses,

referral source, and service provider assignment, progress in school, progress in juvenile court, and

progress with the home situation, face-to-face contacts, SRO concerns, school suspensions, and

recidivism outcomes.

Qualitative data were also collected to contextualize the quantitative findings. These data

were drawn from semi-structured interviews each lasting approximately 35 minutes with

representatives from five of the agencies that provide intervention services to the majority of the

juveniles in the Youth Diversion Program.

This Youth Diversion Program was developed and implemented by a large, southeastern

metropolitan police department in January 2013. It is a pre-arrest, police-based, diversion program

for first-time offenders charged with divertible offenses. Eligible youth range in age from 6 to 17

years-old and live within the county district. Both the youth and their parent(s)/caregiver(s) had to

consent to participate in the intervention program instead of formal juvenile justice

processing/formal record. Divertible offenses include public affray, simple assault, disorderly

conduct, communicating threats, trespassing, larceny, and damage to property, weapon law

violations, and alcohol/narcotics possession. (Note that restitution cannot be mandated for property

damage, unrecovered items, or medical bills.)

Before the start of the Youth Diversion Program, any juvenile with a delinquency complaint

proceeds through the intake process and is evaluated by a juvenile justice court counselor. In this

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