Crime Causation and Diversion 1

RUNNING HEAD: Crime Causation and Diversion

Steven Griffiths
CJA374
Crystal Gregory
University of Phoenix
17 DEC 12










Crime Causation and Diversion 2

Juvenile Crime Prevention Services
For every type of crime committed there is an individual behind the action that has made a
conscious choice to break the law, and accept the consequences of their actions. Juvenile programs aimed
at preventing crime from happening, and providing counseling for youth offenders to help cope with their
individual situations are nothing new. The programs have been implemented by individual state, city or
county officials, and staffed by either paid or volunteer associates. According to the Kootenai County
Juvenile Diversion Program: The Diversion Program is a voluntary alternative to the formal court
process for most first time offending youth. Those referred to the program have committed a law violation
and a police report has been submitted to the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Those cases meeting certain
criteria are "diverted" to the Youth Accountability Board. The Board is comprised of community
volunteers trained to meet the youths and prepare written Diversion Agreements. The Kootenai County
program offers a variety of efficient and cost effective programs to help the individual offender. The most
common program is community service, where the sentenced offender spends a determined amount of
time serving in their community and even in their specific neighborhood. Another program they offer is a
shoplifting awareness program that focuses on the effects of shoplifting on the community as well as the
overall economy. Diversion is a voluntary program that offers juveniles an opportunity to resolve a filed
police report without appearing in court. If a juvenile is referred to the Diversion Program by the
Prosecuting Attorney, s/he will meet with a Diversion Probation Officer to review their pending police
report, their rights, and expectations of the Diversion Program. If a juvenile agrees to participate, a social
history interview will be conducted, and the Diversion Officer will develop a contract for the juvenile and
parent that may include a Diversion fee, community service, reparation to victims, letters of apology, and
applicable groups. The contract encompasses aspects of accountability (holding the juvenile responsible
to the victim and the community for his/her offense) and competency development. The juvenile is given
more information and skills about the law, making better choices, and saying no to peer pressure. The
typical contract length is 90 days; however, a juvenile may complete the program sooner if all contractual
terms are met. Alternately, the contract may be extended if more time or services are needed to complete
Crime Causation and Diversion 3

contract terms. It provides an in depth look at the consequences on the offender as well as the store owner
and the consumers that frequent the establishment. ("Ada County Juvenile Diversion Programs", 2012,
para 6-7). These two programs are both great at what they are meant to accomplish, they help the
offender understand the coming implications of their crime and they get to be a part of the community
who wants them to understand that there are always alternatives to whatever reason they feel a need to
steal, vandalize, burn, or assault. Understanding the causes of juvenile delinquency is an integral part of
preventing a young person from involvement in inappropriate, harmful and illegal conduct. Four primary
risk factors can identify young people inclined to delinquent activities: individual, family, mental health
and substance abuse. Often, a juvenile is exposed to risk factors in more than one of these classifications.
The main participant pool for juvenile diversion programs are those who are most at risk of becoming a
multiple offender both in the juvenile system as well as the adult system later on in life. Also, the key
participant in these programs is the first time offender, who, without these types of programs would not
ever know the domino effect of their actions later in their lives. The best of the two programs at reducing
juvenile crime is going to be a program like the shoplifting prevention program. If the youth offender has
a better idea at who they are hurting (and they actually care) they might think twice before they take
money out of their parents pockets, or even the parents of their friends pockets. Giving them a clear
understanding of the path of their actions might persuade them to be more productive in society rather
than a burden to society.

References
Juvenile Diversion. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.kcgov.us/departments/justiceservices/juvdiv/
Ada County Juvenile Diversion Programs. (2012). Retrieved from
http://www.adaweb.net/JuvenileCourt/ProbationCourtServices.aspx