Perceptions of a police-initiated diversion program: a qualitative study

Police-initiated diversion practices allow officers to divert youth away from the justice system. This qualitative study addresses one such Southern California program to understand the subjective experiences of youth and parents through in-depth interviews. Thirty-eight respondents, 19 youth and 19...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Kidd, Taylor (Author) ; Magidson, Mark (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2023
In: Criminal justice studies
Year: 2023, Volume: 36, Issue: 1, Pages: 53-69
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
Qualitative Research
Juvenile Delinquency
Legal socialization
Procedural Justice
Police diversion
Description
Summary:Police-initiated diversion practices allow officers to divert youth away from the justice system. This qualitative study addresses one such Southern California program to understand the subjective experiences of youth and parents through in-depth interviews. Thirty-eight respondents, 19 youth and 19 parents, were interviewed for this study. Results demonstrate how an increase in positive interactions with police officers and diversion program staff can influence how youth comply with the law and legal institutions. Interviews emphasized youths’ complex attitudes toward police and the law, highlighting the importance for police and diversion programs to engage in transparent practices to facilitate a greater understanding of diversion and reduce potentially traumatic feelings from initial police contact.
ISSN:1478-6028
DOI:10.1080/1478601X.2023.2165074