Official Intervention, Diversion from the Juvenile Justice System, and Dynamics of Human Services Work: Effects of a Reform Goal Based on Labeling Theory

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Abstract
This study examines the relationship between the degree of official intervention in the lives of juveniles charged with delinquent offenses and their diversion status. We draw upon official justice system data, data from a large diversion project that operated in eight counties, and data collected through field observations of the diversion program under study. Our findings show that the official intervention process is as intrusive for youth diverted out of the juvenile justice system for services as it is for those youth who are not diverted. Some part of the failure of one program on this reform goal may be explained by a general resistance to change among juvenile court officials, but it is clear from field observation data that the practices and professional ideologies of human services workers also contribute substantially to the failure.