title: Arbitrary arbitration: diverting juveniles into the justice system--a reexamination after 22 years.
abstract: This article reports on a study of a juvenile diversion program based in California. It replicates a similar 1986 study of a Florida-based juvenile diversion program. Both studies examine the appropriateness of the actual juvenile population serviced in comparison with the declared and described programs' target populations. Findings in the current research support earlier findings that the diversion program services self-serving, low-risk populations, rather than their intended "first-time nonviolent," more seriously at risk of continued delinquent behavior, target population. This finding is examined in terms of its relationship to issues of labeling and net widening, and suggests how the current study diversion program manages to create a façade that more seriously at-risk youth are being properly targeted by the program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminal Justice, California State University-Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840-4603, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Béchard
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vogel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003417:Criminal Psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D017008:Negotiating / Q000379:methods*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D016495:Police; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012951:Socialization; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013800:Theft / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology