What does the research say about effective juvenile diversion approaches?
There is increasing recognition that youth incarceration is an ineffective strategy for reducing recidivism and further results in long-term mental and social harm. In contrast, juvenile diversion programs redirect youth offenders from the justice system to community-based supports. This brief summarizes the research on youth diversion programs and situates this evidence within the context of Orange County, FL, to support decision-making by local policy makers.