Diversion Programs| Measuring Recidivism Rates for First-Time Offenders In the REACH Program

• Main Author: Adamson, Vanessa
• Language: EN
• Published: University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2019
• Subjects: Criminology
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=13420078

<p> With the growing popularity of the &ldquo;get-tough&rdquo; movement in the early 1990&rsquo;s, juveniles that were at-risk for offending were deterred by way of formal sanctions. As a result, juveniles were being arrested at a higher rate for nonviolent crimes. Current laws are trying to divert first-time and nonviolent juvenile offenders from the juvenile courts and toward diversion. Diversion programs are designed to give limited interventions to &ldquo;at-risk&rdquo; youth with the intention to decrease subsequent offending. Some studies suggest that effective community-based diversion programs reduce recidivism rates of juveniles; however, not all diversion programs are designed the same. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a juvenile diversion program in the state of Louisiana. The current study will specifically look at diversion programs assisted by the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC). All youth diversion services provided will concentrate primarily on behavioral and substance abuse programs targeted for youth aged ten to seventeen. The current study is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of diversion programs by assessing the recidivism rates of first-time offenders.</p><p>