A Scoping Review of Youth Diversion Research Literature - CANCELLED

• In Event: Poster Session 1

Abstract

This study aims to understand the scope of youth diversion in Western jurisdictions by undertaking a scoping review (SR). Since its inception, youth diversion has become prevalent in youth justice, aiming to reduce the formal entry of juveniles into the system and provide community-based interventions to address criminogenic behaviors. Nonetheless, significant gaps remain when evaluating its success in practice. The research conducted for this study seeks to answer four basic but essential questions: How is diversion being evaluated and deemed successful for young offenders? Which youth are being diverted, formally or informally? Who is diverting the youth entering diversionary programs? At what stage are youth being deferred to diversion rather than the formal justice system? The findings reveal that success is primarily measured by tracking recidivism rates. A typical profile of a diverted youth emerged as a fifteen-year-old Caucasian male. Diversion initiatives were mainly initiated by police officers, prosecutors, and judges, with most diversions occurring at the post-charge stage. The scope review also revealed several gaps in the literature when discussing LGBTQIA+ youth, and female-only programs.

Author

• Jose Yair Ibarra Gomez, Ontario Tech University