Critical Tensions in Police Diversion: Unpacking the Current Constraints, Philosophies, and Tradeoffs Across the Field

• In Event: Models of Police Diversion at the Point of Arrest

Abstract

As calls for alternatives to incarceration continue to increase, the development of police diversion programs has increased in urgency. This multi-year qualitative study examined police diversion programs in the United States and was guided by three specific research questions: 1. what constraints emerge when developing police diversion programs, 2. what tensions exist in the work of police diversion, and 3. what compromises and tradeoffs are necessary to ensure program success. Semi-structured interviews with over 44 organizational leaders were conducted, recorded, and transcribed. After a team-driven process that led to the development of a codebook, qualitative analysis was conducted in NVivo 14. Findings that emerged frame a dichotomy of deservingness vs. un-deservingness across diversion philosophies and service deliveries. Varying inclusion and exclusion criteria for services spoke to the moral and political underpinnings of where and by whom policies and programs were generated. Data also revealed three overarching themes: 1. Constraints, working with limited resources; 2. Philosophical differences in approaches to addressing public safety and public health challenges, mandated vs. self-driven referrals, and harm reduction vs. compliance-driven approaches to police diversion work; and 3. Tradeoffs/Compromises when deciding how and when to work with law enforcement and related partners.

Author

• Caroline Harmon-Darrow, Rutgers University School of Social Work